28 Aug 2018

Here are more VoIP features you can use

2018-09-14T10:01:02-07:00

The many features available for VoIP may overwhelm and confuse you. You might even overlook a lot of them. How do you keep track of all its applications and functions? We’ve compiled a list of features included with your VoIP service that often go unnoticed.

Busy lamp field

The busy light notifies you when people can’t take your call. You avoid disrupting someone from an important phone call, and you can choose to wait or call someone else. You can manage your call times more efficiently, especially if you make several calls a day.

In-call coaching

Train your employees on how to speak with clients over the phone using add-on services like Barge and Whisper. Barge enables you to silently monitor your employee’s phone conversation, while Whisper allows you to coach your employees during a call, without the customer hearing you.

Hot desking

It lets you transfer your phone settings and preferences over to another IP device. Any available IP phone can become your “personal” phone when needed.

Hold Music

Make waiting […]

Here are more VoIP features you can use2018-09-14T10:01:02-07:00
27 Aug 2018

Watch out for this persuasive phishing email

2018-09-14T10:00:54-07:00

Anglers catch fish by dangling bait in front of their victims, and hackers use the same strategy to trick your employees. There’s a new phishing scam making the rounds and the digital bait is almost impossible to distinguish from the real thing. Here are the three things to watch out for in Office 365 scams.

Step 1 – Invitation to collaborate email

The first thing victims receive from hackers is a message that looks identical to an email from Microsoft’s file sharing platform SharePoint. It says, “John Doe has sent you a file, to view it click the link below…”

In most cases, the sender will be an unfamiliar name. However, some hackers research your organization to make the email more convincing.

Step 2 – Fake file sharing portal

Clicking the link opens a SharePoint file that looks like another trusted invitation from a Microsoft app, usually OneDrive. This is a big red flag since there’s no reason to send an email containing a link to a page with […]

Watch out for this persuasive phishing email2018-09-14T10:00:54-07:00
24 Aug 2018

Customize your Windows 10 experience

2018-09-14T10:00:43-07:00

You log into your PC and you’re greeted by an incredibly plain desktop background and an equally drab Start Menu. Suddenly, a notification goes off and tells you that an application you barely use is ready for an update. Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it? If you want your desktop to look or behave a certain way, try out these tips to personalize your Windows 10 experience.

Change your themes

The most obvious way to personalize Windows 10 is by changing your background and lock screen images. Do this by right-clicking anywhere on your desktop and choosing the Personalization settings. Here you can choose and preview different backgrounds and themes you can use. You can even add new themes by using images from your gallery or by clicking the Get more themes online option.

Use dark mode

Want to give your Windows 10 an edgier feel? Replace those white backgrounds with dark mode. Click on the Windows icon on your taskbar and select the gear icon for Settings. […]

Customize your Windows 10 experience2018-09-14T10:00:43-07:00
23 Aug 2018

4 BYOD security risks you should prepare for

2018-09-14T10:00:33-07:00

Personal computing is with us wherever we go. Thanks to the rise of the mobile industry, smartphones and tablets allow us to take work home with us. And with the bring your own device (BYOD) strategy, businesses have never been so productive. However, BYOD can pose a number of security risks if you’re not careful. Here are some BYOD security issues you should know before implementing it.

Data leakage

The biggest reason businesses are wary of implementing a BYOD strategy is because it can leave the company’s system vulnerable to data breaches. Personal devices are not part of your business’s IT infrastructure, which means that these devices are not protected by company firewalls and security systems.

Employees might also take work with them to places outside of your company premises that don’t have adequate security settings, thus leaving your system vulnerable to inherent security risks.

Lost devices

Another risk your company has to deal with is the possibility that employees will lose their personal devices. If devices with sensitive […]

4 BYOD security risks you should prepare for2018-09-14T10:00:33-07:00
22 Aug 2018

6 tips to install the newest iOS update

2018-09-14T10:00:24-07:00

iOS updates for iPhone happen on a regular basis. While you may be in the habit of updating to the latest software without giving it a second thought, consider holding off the installation to save yourself from unnecessary headaches that come with a premature iOS update. Avoid unnecessary inconvenience during your iOS installation by following these six guidelines.

Consider waiting

Just because a new iOS update is released doesn’t mean you must install it right away. In fact, users who install the software early have to deal with the imperfections and the bugs of the newly released update. For example, when iOS 11.3 was released, many users suffered from autocorrect bugs, unstable bluetooth connections, and shorter battery life.

Do your research before updating to a new version of iOS to be on the safe side. Get feedback from users who have already upgraded to the latest software, read Apple forums, watch YouTube tutorials, and do a Google search about the pros and cons of upgrading to the […]

6 tips to install the newest iOS update2018-09-14T10:00:24-07:00
21 Aug 2018

Upgrading to a dual monitor system

2018-09-14T10:00:13-07:00

Small businesses are always searching for ways for their employees to be more effective computer users. But before you go out and buy bigger hard drives and faster processors, you should consider upgrading your desktops to a dual monitor system. Read on to find out about the advantages of using two monitors per desktop.

Enhanced productivity
Published studies conclude that by working with dual monitors, overall productivity increases by 20-50%. Computer programmers, for example, can use one screen for source coding and the other for programming; by using dual monitors, they no longer need to toggle back and forth between tabs. This reduces error and frees up time to complete more projects.

Better multitasking
Efficient multitasking requires adequate screen space to keep multiple applications simultaneously visible — a view that single monitors alone simply cannot accommodate. Workers who require computers, like customer service reps and web designers, would no longer waste time switching between tabs and resizing windows to fit the limited space; they could now focus on […]

Upgrading to a dual monitor system2018-09-14T10:00:13-07:00
20 Aug 2018

Beginner’s guide to G Suite Apps

2018-09-14T10:00:02-07:00

Google is globally recognized as a search engine and an ad-placement agency, but now they’re leveraging the power of cloud computing to offer a set of productivity-boosting applications for businesses. It’s called G Suite, and it’s quickly becoming profit-minded business owners’ best friend.

G Suite puts all of Google’s most popular apps into one package. Let’s take a closer look at all it has to offer.

Gmail
Gmail is Google’s webmail service, with over 1 billion users worldwide. Although Gmail is available free of charge, you can get extended features for a low monthly fee, including custom company email addresses, unlimited group addresses, 30GB of inbox storage, and 24/7 help desk support.

Hangouts
Hangouts offers instant messaging, audio/video chat, and screen sharing features. It allows you to create virtual rooms where employees can share files, organize projects, and even conduct virtual presentations for video conferences. Hangouts runs on any internet-enabled device with a camera, speakers, and microphone.

Calendar
Google Calendar allows you to stay in sync with your colleagues from anywhere, […]

Beginner’s guide to G Suite Apps2018-09-14T10:00:02-07:00
17 Aug 2018

Can AI enhance your e-commerce business?

2018-09-14T09:57:38-07:00

Artificial intelligence (AI) or “machine learning” has quickly transformed from science fiction to reality, and is currently on track to become an integral part of the corporate business environment. According to experts, by 2020 85% of all customer interactions with businesses will occur via machine learning programs. So if your organization has an e-commerce component, read on to learn how AI can help you stay ahead of the curve.

Predicting what your customers want

There are many ways AI can benefit businesses and consumers. For example, machine learning algorithms can identify customers’ habits and their interests, simply based on their search histories. Properly configured, AI can analyze customers’ shopping behaviors to customize the online experience based on a variety of factors like browsing pattern and purchase history.

Product recommendations, pairings, and promotions can also be targeted to individuals, improving the customer experience and your bottom line.

More intuitive product recommendations

Machine learning is also great for cataloging products. In the past, businesses would send out cumbersome product catalogs that […]

Can AI enhance your e-commerce business?2018-09-14T09:57:38-07:00
16 Aug 2018

How business continuity plans can fail

2018-09-14T09:57:28-07:00

Just because your IT provider has a plethora of awards and certifications under its belt doesn’t mean that you can blindly hand over your business’s future to them. Often times, there are some aspects in your business continuity plan that tend to be overlooked by your provider. We have rounded up some of these issues on your business continuity plans.

Over-optimistic testing

The initial testing attempt is usually the most important. It’s when IT service providers can pinpoint possible weak points in the recovery plan. However, what usually happens is that they test the system in full, instead of via a step-by-step process. This results in them missing out specific points, with too many factors overwhelming them all at the same time.

Insufficient remote user licenses

A remote user license is given by service providers to businesses so that when a disaster strikes, employees can log in to a remote desktop software. However, a provider may only have […]

How business continuity plans can fail2018-09-14T09:57:28-07:00
15 Aug 2018

Find cool uses for your old Android tablet

2018-09-14T09:57:15-07:00

It’s a fact of life that electronic devices don’t stay on top of the market for very long. That nice new Android tablet with all the latest apps and games will soon be replaced with a newer version, and you have the decision to upgrade or be left with a useless piece of metal and plastic. Fortunately, there are five ways to repurpose that old Android tablet into something useful.

With new technological devices released almost on a daily basis, your new Android tablet can become obsolete before you’ve even gotten any productive use out of it. But instead of tossing it into the drawer with your other gadgets, you should recycle it into something you can use long into the future.

It doesn’t take long for your stylish new electronic device to become just another outdated model in the waste pile. Your once-fresh Android tablet might have done its due a long time ago, but there’s no need […]

Find cool uses for your old Android tablet2018-09-14T09:57:15-07:00
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