With the state of the environment, moving towards a paperless office is a seriously wise decision. Resources are, after all, constantly diminishing and electing to go with hard copies could prove wholly undesirable from an economic perspective. But, the environment aside, going paperless just makes sense. From a productivity viewpoint, a single lost document could cost you half a day and put your ongoing projects under pressure. In addition, you have all of the added storage space to worry about, which is an issue that simply doesn’t exist in a paperless office. Is It Possible to Go Truly Paperless? The idea of a 100% paperless office is excellent, but, at this point in time, it is slightly impractical. While we might get to a completely paperless point eventually, as things stand we do need some degree of paper in the office. Certain industries need to have physical contracts in hand, while others need hard copies of proposals and mock-ups to give to clients at meetings. Of course, there are also the employees who feel that they best develop ideas when they can jot small details down on a page in a random fashion. While there are digital solutions for these issues, not all companies have the budget to provide these. And, even if they did, there are those team members who simply can’t get past the artificial feeling of, say, a stylus on a pad. So, a paperless office in its strictest sense might not be the most practical option at present. But, that being said, minimizing the amount of paper in your office offers some definite benefits. So, how do you achieve this? We have a few pointers. Easy Tips for Creating a Paperless Office The easiest way to streamline the route to a paperless office is to put the project in the hands of an IT support company. This way, you can easily switch to file-sharing systems like cloud services (which discourage printing) and be sure that you won’t end up minimizing the productivity boost that comes with going paperless. But, to help you make the transition even smoother, here are some tips for going paperless: 1. Make Printing InconvenientThe move to a completely paperless office is not going to happen overnight, and you might find that the habit of printing various documents out might be difficult to break in some of your employees. So, to help ingrain the concept of a paperless office, you can make the physical act of printing more difficult. One way to do this is to limit the amount of printers available around the office. If your employees have printers on their desks, remove them. This will mean that your staff members will have to get up to retrieve printed documents, causing them to think harder before they hit the print button. And, to add effort to the process, you could move the printers away from the central points of your offices, making them even harder to access. 2. Let Your Vendors, Clients, and Service Providers Know of Your SwitchIf you still have vendors who send you physical invoices, tell them that your office is going paperless and request that they send electronic invoices in the future. Similarly, inform your clients that you will begin sending through your invoices in electronic form only. Also, ask your service providers and your bank to issue their bills and statements in electronic form going forward. 3. Scan Your Documents and ContractsIf you have a store room full of old contracts and documents, you need to digitalize those hard copies. If you have a decent scanner, this won’t be difficult. It might require a concerted effort and some time set aside, but it is necessary to make the move to a paperless office. If you don’t have a scanner, don’t worry, you can still accomplish this task without one. There are numerous apps that essentially turn a smartphone into a scanner. These mobile scanning apps, for example, all have the functionality necessary for your general scanning needs. 4. Use Digital SignaturesYou might think that the need to print and sign documents makes it impossible to lessen the amount of paper in your office, but this is a misconception. In fact, according to the E-Sign Act brought about in 2000, there is no need to physically sign documents. So, instead of printing out pages in order to sign them, use electronic signatures. Here are some of the best e-sign programs on the market today. 5. Move to Digital FaxFaxing saw its heyday long, long ago. But, still, there are those companies who use this form of communication in their day to day operations. If you are dealing with companies that still require documents to be faxed through, or still send you faxed communication, you might consider switching to digital fax. Through this technique, fax communications are converted to email. This means that inbound faxes come directly to your inbox, and you can send faxes directly from your computer or mobile device as well. You can compare some of the best online fax services here. Of course, if you want to take this all the way, you can even remove the need for physical phone handsets by using VOIP. 6. Increase Digital Work-SurfacesThe exchange of documents aside, your office might be printing a lot as a result of your employees needing reference material. If anything needs to be cross-referenced, it is easier to print out the reference instead of constantly switching between open tabs and windows. A good way to get around this is to provide your employees with multiple displays. If an employee is able to pull up reference material on a second screen, it cancels out the need to print it out. Going Fully Paperless Is a Moving, Yet Achievable Target Making the move to a paperless office is not going to happen overnight. As with so many things in life, and in business, reaching your target will take a series of small steps. And, you

How comfortable are you with your network’s security? If you have a basic firewall in place, you’re off to a good start. But, there’s no such thing as overdoing it when it comes to security. Your company’s network contains a great deal of important data, the loss of which might cripple your company for good. So, if you aren’t confident that you are doing everything you can to prevent malicious attacks, here are a few tips for strengthening your firewall.   Tips for a Stronger Firewall In Part 1 we looked at 5 tips for setting up a firewall. Now we will look at another 5 for maintaining it: 1. Support Your Firewall with an Anti-Virus The main purpose of firewalls is to block any malicious software that tries to pass through them into the internal networks which they are designed to protect. This is certainly important for defensive purposes, but you don’t want a firewall to be your only line of defense. This is because firewalls aren’t equipped to seek out and destroy any viruses that might infiltrate a system. For this reason it is highly advisable to install a capable anti-virus program to supplement your firewall. This way, if malware does make it through your firewall, your anti-virus can eliminate it. 2. Consider Egress Filtering You would usually use a firewall to protect you from unwanted inbound traffic which may contain malicious software. But, it is equally important to monitor your outbound traffic, which we call egress filtering. This is important because outbound traffic can be used to send sensitive data to hackers. This might be completely unintentional on the part of your employees, and could be the result of a malicious program having made it onto your network. But, regardless of the cause, monitoring your outbound traffic can help you stop a data breach before it happens. 3. Set Up an IDS You want your firewall to protect you from intrusions, but it doesn’t help much for it to do this in secret. The best way to set up a great defensive system is to become aware of the areas of your network that are being targeted. For this you need an IDS, or Intrusion Detection System. An IDS alerts you as to any malicious login attempts, policy violations, and the like. This way you can better equip your network protection to defend against threats. 4. Test, Test, and Retest You don’t want to discover that your firewall is insecure by having your system infiltrated by hackers – that is a very costly lesson. Instead, it is advisable to run tests on your firewall to check it for vulnerabilities. Start by checking for leaks in order to better understand your firewall’s filtering system. Next, check your system’s ports, which are the areas of your network which hackers would use to gain entrance. 5. Power Down at the End of the Day This may be a simple method, but it is effective. Essentially, hackers can’t access a system if it is not switched on. So, by either powering down completely or using the sleep function, you disconnect from the open internet and out of the reach of hackers. The downside of this is the fact that you can’t use the nights to run updates for your firewall, but there will always be a trade-off between ultimate protection and ultimate system performance. The Best Protection Comes from Professional Security Services These tips will help strengthen your company’s firewall, but they can’t ensure that it is absolutely impenetrable. So, if it’s unrivalled protection that you want for your company’s sensitive data, we suggest calling in internet security services. Professional security services use their up-to-the-minute knowledge of rising trends in hacking and malware to tailor firewall protection for the current era. And, when it comes to the protection of your company and its data, why would you want anything less?

If the time has come to move your small business’s data sharing to a server, or you need to replace your old server, you might be at a loss as to how to choose a new one. But, fortunately, we have a few tips to help you choose the right solution for your business. In Part 1 of this look at small business servers, we discussed 3 fundamental questions that you should ask yourself before choosing a server for your small business. Now let us take a look at a few more which will help you decide on the right server for your business’s needs. More Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Small Business Server 1. Will I back up my server regularly? Backing up your data is certainly beneficial. This way, unexpected accidents can’t prove irrevocable for your business. However, since backing up servers is a relatively technical process, you might want to choose a server that is managed by a professional IT team. Which brings us to…   2. Will I need an in-house IT department? Sometimes having an in-house IT team is just too expensive for small businesses to manage. If this is the case for you, choosing a server vendor that offers maintenance and support is absolutely your best bet. Electing a server vendor that offers outsourced IT support is a truly great idea. This way you won’t incur the cost of having to maintain your own IT department. And, should you need the security of IT staff to tend to your server at your premise, the best IT services offer on-site support. By outsourcing your IT services to your vendor supplier, you end up with a skilled IT team offering 24/7 wrap around – and you can be assured that your support is tailored to the type of server you chose to install.   3. What sort of operating system will my server require? The type of operating system that you need for your server really depends on your needs. Depending on the amount of data requests, you might need a very capable OS. It is recommended to opt for a robust operating system in order to ensure the stability of applications and accommodate future growth.   4. Do I need multiple servers? As a small business you might want multiple servers but not have the resources or space allowances for them. If this is the case, you can implement virtualization to create multiple servers. Using software referred to as a hypervisor, you can create multiple virtual servers out of your single physical server, which is a very popular option in the current era. One main benefit of a hypervisor is isolation, which protects the other servers should one virtual server crash. While this route has multiple other advantages, it does require an operating system that is able to handle the burden of supporting virtual servers.   Outsourcing IT Is the Best Solution for Small Business Servers As a small business, you want to keep things as simple and inexpensive as you possibly can. For this reason, choosing IT services to supply and manage your server makes the most sense. Not only do you get IT services that know the finer details of the server and its maintenance, but you don’t incur the cost of having to keep an in-house IT department. With the same service for a fraction of the price, and a reliable server fulfilling all of your business’s needs, outsourcing your IT and letting your new service provider handle your server is a truly brilliant business decision.

Choosing the right server for your small business is not just about buying a box with enough storage. It is about choosing an IT setup that supports your staff, protects your data and gives your business room to grow. For many small businesses, the decision can feel confusing. You may be comparing on-site servers, cloud platforms, hybrid systems, storage, security, backups and support plans. You may also be trying to keep costs sensible, especially when hardware, software licences and ongoing maintenance can quickly add up to £1,000s. The good news is that you do not need to overcomplicate it. You just need to start with how your business works and what your team needs every day. With the right guidance, you can choose a server setup that is practical, secure and cost-effective. Start with your business needs Before you look at processor speeds, storage sizes or server models, think about what the server actually needs to do. Will it store shared files? Will it run business software? Will it manage user access? Will your staff need to connect from home, client sites or different office locations? Will it support backups, security tools and business-critical applications? A 5-person office will not need the same setup as a business with 50 users, multiple sites and remote workers. That is why it helps to review your wider IT support and management needs before making a decision. If you are unsure where to begin, professional IT consulting can help you understand your current setup, future plans and potential risks before you invest. Think about growth, not just today A server that works well today may not be enough in 2 or 3 years. If you plan to hire more staff, open another office or introduce new systems, your server should have the capacity to grow with you. That includes storage, memory, processing power, software compatibility and user access. It is often cheaper to plan properly at the start than to replace equipment too soon. A low-cost server may seem attractive now, but it can become expensive if it slows your team down or needs urgent upgrades later. This is also where hardware and software support can be useful. You can get help choosing equipment that matches your workload, budget and long-term plans. Decide whether you need on-site, cloud or hybrid Not every small business needs a traditional on-site server anymore. An on-site server can still make sense if you use specialist software, need fast local file access or want more direct control over your infrastructure. However, it also needs space, power, cooling, security, maintenance and regular monitoring. Cloud services can be more flexible. They can support remote working, reduce the need for large upfront hardware costs and make it easier to scale users over time. For many businesses, Cloud Services and Office 365 can handle email, file sharing, collaboration and day-to-day productivity without needing everything to sit on-site. A hybrid setup can also work well. You may keep some systems in the office while moving email, backups or collaboration tools into the cloud. If you are changing platforms, professional IT migration services can help reduce disruption and make the move more controlled. Make security part of the decision from the start Your server may hold client data, staff records, financial files, contracts and business documents. That makes security a key part of the buying decision, not something to add later. The UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025/2026 reported that 43% of UK businesses experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the previous 12 months. That is a serious reminder that small businesses cannot afford to treat cyber security as optional. When choosing your server setup, think about: Strong user passwords and multi-factor authentication Regular security updates and patching Clear user permissions Reliable endpoint protection Secure backup storage Monitoring for unusual activity A tested disaster recovery plan Good IT security services can help you build these protections into your setup from the beginning. Plan your backups before you need them A server failure can quickly turn into a business problem if you do not have reliable backups. Files can be deleted by mistake. Hardware can fail. Ransomware can lock access to data. Power issues, theft, fire or flood can also affect equipment kept in your office. You should know: What data is being backed up How often backups are taken Where backups are stored How quickly data can be restored Who checks the backups are working Do not rely on assumptions. A backup is only useful if it can be restored when you need it. Regular testing is just as important as the backup itself. For extra protection, dark web monitoring can also help identify whether business credentials linked to your organisation have been exposed online. Check performance before choosing specifications It is easy to focus on storage size, but performance matters just as much. If your server is too slow, your staff may spend more time waiting for files, applications and systems to respond. That lost time can affect productivity and customer service. Think about how your team works. Do they open large design files? Do they use database-driven software? Do they work with shared documents all day? Do they need fast access from different locations? The answers will influence the type of server, storage and network setup you need. There is no point buying powerful hardware if your office network is weak, your internet connection is poor or your software is not configured properly. Review your network as well as your server Sometimes the server is not the real problem. Slow systems can be caused by old switches, poor cabling, weak Wi-Fi, firewall issues or limited internet bandwidth. If you only replace the server, you may still have the same performance problems afterwards. Before spending money, review the wider IT environment. This may include your routers, switches, Wi-Fi access points, firewalls, cabling and remote access setup. Services such as network penetration testing can also help identify weaknesses that could affect security as well as performance. For a deeper review of security risks, penetration testing can help show how attackers may

Your corporate firewall is still one of the most important barriers between your business and the outside world. It helps control what enters and leaves your network, blocks unwanted traffic and reduces the chance of attackers reaching sensitive systems. But a firewall is not something you simply install and forget about. In the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025/2026, 43% of businesses reported a cyber security breach or attack in the previous 12 months. The figure was even higher for medium businesses at 65% and large businesses at 69%. That does not mean every business needs a complicated security setup, but it does show why the basics matter. A well-configured firewall can help reduce risk, but only if it is managed properly. Poor passwords, unused rules, default settings and weak access policies can all leave gaps. Here are some simple, practical tips to help secure your corporate firewall. Start with firewall hardening Firewall hardening means removing anything that does not need to be there. The idea is simple. The more services, accounts, open ports and default settings you leave active, the more opportunities you give an attacker. Start by reviewing the firewall configuration carefully. Remove unused services. Disable unnecessary management access. Change default usernames and passwords. Make sure firmware and software updates are applied. Check whether old rules are still needed or whether they were only created for a temporary project. This is where wider IT security services can be useful. Firewall hardening should not sit on its own. It should fit into your broader security, device and user access controls. You should also make sure someone owns the process. If nobody is responsible for reviewing the firewall, it is very easy for old settings to remain in place for years. Use strong passwords and proper admin access Weak admin passwords are still a serious risk. Attackers often prefer the simplest route into a system. If your firewall has a weak password, a shared login or an old admin account that nobody checks, you are making their job easier. Use long, unique passwords or passphrases for firewall administration. Avoid reusing passwords across different systems. Do not share one admin login between several people if you can avoid it. Each administrator should have their own account, with only the access they genuinely need. Multi-factor authentication should also be used wherever your firewall or management platform supports it. This adds another layer of protection if a password is stolen or guessed. Credential exposure is a growing issue for UK businesses, especially when staff reuse passwords across different services. Dark web monitoring can help identify whether business email addresses or credentials have already appeared in breach data or criminal spaces. Customise the firewall around how your team works Default firewall settings are rarely perfect for your business. They may block something your staff genuinely need, or allow more access than is sensible. The answer is not to let users disable protections when they get frustrated. That creates more risk. The better approach is to configure the firewall around real business needs. For example, if a trusted platform needs to be accessible for a finance team, create a specific rule for that requirement. If a department no longer uses a certain service, remove that access. If remote workers need secure access, use approved VPN or zero trust access rather than broad open rules. This is where practical IT consulting can help. A good review should look at users, systems, cloud tools, devices and business workflows, not just the firewall in isolation. If your business relies heavily on Microsoft 365, email, Teams and cloud systems, your firewall rules should also sit alongside secure identity and account controls through cloud services and Office 365 support. Deny first, then allow what is needed A sensible firewall policy usually starts from a deny-first position. That means traffic is blocked by default, and only approved traffic is allowed through. This is much safer than allowing broad access and then trying to block risky traffic one rule at a time. The deny-first approach gives you more control and a clearer view of what your business actually needs. You should document each rule clearly. Include what the rule does, why it exists, who requested it and when it should be reviewed. This may sound basic, but it can save a lot of confusion later. Without documentation, firewall rules often become a collection of old exceptions. Nobody wants to remove them because nobody knows what they do. That is how networks become messy and harder to protect. Segment your network where it makes sense Not every system should sit in the same part of your network. Network segmentation helps separate different types of traffic, users and systems. For example, you may want to separate guest Wi-Fi from company devices. You may also want to separate servers, finance systems, management tools or public-facing services from the rest of your internal network. Some businesses use a DMZ, or demilitarised zone, for systems that need to communicate with the internet but should not have direct access to the internal network. This adds an extra layer between external traffic and sensitive business systems. Segmentation is especially important if your business has remote users, public-facing applications, third-party access or older equipment that cannot easily be replaced. If you are not sure whether your firewall rules and network design are doing what you think they are doing, network penetration testing can help identify weaknesses before attackers find them. Do not treat the firewall as your only defence A firewall matters, but it is not the whole answer. Modern attacks often involve email, stolen credentials, infected devices, cloud accounts and social engineering. That is why your firewall should be part of a wider security setup. Your business should also consider endpoint protection, email filtering, multi-factor authentication, patching, backups and staff awareness. For example, anti phishing support can help reduce the chance of users clicking suspicious links or sharing login details. Good endpoint protection can help detect harmful activity on laptops and desktops. Regular patching can close known vulnerabilities before

Part 1 Small business owners might feel safe from cyber-attacks based on the fact that they are less visible.  After all, wouldn’t hackers want to target the big businesses with all the money?  According to Symantec’s report, no, they wouldn’t. In fact, the number of cyber-attacks targeting small businesses in 2016 made up 43% of the total number of attacks, and this is on a global scale.  More alarmingly, this number is up from a mere 18% recorded in 2011. But, why have small businesses become such a target?  Well, the truth is that hackers don’t have particular agendas.  They go after any business that is vulnerable enough to be hacked. So, with this in mind, is your business’s cyber-security reliable?  And, if not, how can you prevent cyber-attacks on your small business?     How to Prevent Cyber-Attacks on Your Small Business Network 1.    KnowledgePhishing attacks can bring down entire companies.  In fact, 60% of businesses victimised by hackers close within 6 months.  And all it takes is one employee opening an email containing malware. Because of this, one of the best ways to prevent cyber-attacks is to educate your employees as to the risks of opening certain emails or following suspicious links.  If your employees know exactly what to look out for, they’ll have an easier time identifying possible cyber-attacks and might minimise their potential for becoming the victims of such attacks. 2.    Better PasswordsYou might be up to your ears in the latest software to prevent attacks, but, if your employees are picking simple passwords, it’ll do you no good.  Software won’t be able to help you if hackers can simply guess your passwords and gain access to your system. Password complexity is especially important if you are using a system like LastPass, which allows access to a variety of sites and servers all from a single password. Fortunately, LastPass offers a password generator, which creates a completely unique, random password.  This is a good idea in all cases, even if your business doesn’t use password managers.  Sites like these 5 password generators allow your employees to create passwords that are nigh un-hackable. 3.    Fewer Personal DevicesMany small businesses are able to keep their operational costs down by allowing (or asking) their employees to use their own laptops, tablets, and smartphones for business purposes.  This is referred to by some as BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) and may be a sentiment to which you can relate as a small business owner. The problem with this is, of course, that you have less control over the content which is accessed on these devices.  While you may be able to restrict access to certain sites on an office device, you can’t do the same on an employee’s personal device.  This means that your company’s sensitive information might be easier to access by hackers. It might not be an easy task, but the best way to avoid placing your company’s data at risk through personal devices is to limit their use.  Try to implement company devices, which you can monitor and control more easily. Internet Security Starts at HomeThe way your employees behave online can influence the vulnerability of your business to cyber-attacks.  These are just a few of the ways in which you can help your employees conduct safer online behaviour.  For more information get it in touch with our IT support team in NY. Check back in with us for the second part of this look at cyber-security, in which we’ll look at more tips for securing your small business network.   Part 2 When it comes to cyber-attacks, no business is too small to be hacked.  2016 saw the targeted number of small businesses rise dramatically, which hurt many of them beyond repair. In Part 1 we looked at how you can increase your company’s network security with help from your employees.  Now, let us look at how you can secure your network from within. 5 Ways to Increase Network Security 1.    Mobile SecurityScaling back on the BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) trend is definitely a good way to limit the exposure of sensitive business data to hackers’ channels.  However, if your team is out on the road, you are never going to be able to completely curb the use of personal devices for business purposes. But, there are ways to increase security on mobile devices.  These could include the installation of anti-virus software, data monitoring, and the introduction of an acceptable use policy. 2.    EncryptionEncryption used to be viewed with a level of caution based on the fact that it was quite technical and thus difficult to implement in an office of ranging IT skills.  However, the technology is increasingly becoming more user-friendly, which is making it a viable form of security for companies across the board. 3.    Cloud TechnologyWhile the cloud hasn’t exactly been iron-clad in the past (considering the well-publicised celebrity image leak), it is still safer than keeping valuable information in on-site servers.  Moreover, the cloud offers a valuable back-up option just in case your data is compromised. The apparent vulnerability of the cloud that may have led to the aforementioned leak is easily avoided through encryption and secure password generation. 4.    UpdatesIt goes without saying that your business’s anti-virus and anti-malware should be updated on a regular basis.  But, in addition, you should encourage your employees to frequently update the software that these security measures protect. Unlike the protection software, which updates and scans automatically, operating systems sometimes ask their users whether they would like to update.  And, since they can hamper a device’s performance, many users brush these updates under the rug.  However, keeping an operating system updated ensures that all protection software can function to the best of its ability. 5.    SupportPossibly the best way for small businesses to stay abreast of network security is to hire a private support and security service.  This is especially beneficial if your business has a smaller staff and can’t manage the constant

Part 1 We live in a world of digital interconnectivity.  And, because of this, we enjoy the convenience of being able to access online accounts and share files across all of our devices.  But, this state of being totally connected does make it easier for hackers to penetrate our online lives in total, as opposed to just parts of it. Because of the threat of cyber-attacks, we know that we have to keep our computers up to date with anti-virus software.  But, what about our phones?  With almost 60% of global search queries coming from mobile devices, are smartphones an obvious point of entry for hackers?  And, more importantly, are we leaving the door wide open? To answer these questions, let’s look at each device individually. Apple iOSApple is quite upfront about the fact that iOS doesn’t need additional security because security is one of its major concerns.  This means that, in addition to the company paying very close attention to the apps in its store, it protects its users from malicious apps on their devices as well. Apple has adopted a ‘sandbox’ approach to the apps on iPhones.  This means that the apps its users download are partitioned off on their phones.  This way, any malicious apps that do make it through to the store are less likely to be able to affect iPhone users.  The company likes to directly handle any issues arising from apps, as it did with 2016’s targeted iOS threat. Because of this, anti-virus apps aren’t a necessity for iOS smartphones.  In fact, you can’t even download apps that conduct thorough scans.  So, if you have an iPhone, you’re safe with practical usage.   AndroidUnlike iOS, Android isn’t quite as concerned with which apps make it into its stores, which makes Android slightly less safe than iOS.  With Android users at higher risk of downloading malicious apps, mobile anti-virus apps are quite important on this operating system. Fortunately, Android devices don’t have a compatibility problem with anti-virus apps, and there are plenty of solutions for Android device security.  The Google Play app store is full of quality anti-virus and anti-malware apps for Android.  These range in price, but there are some effective apps for free.WindowsA few years ago, Windows phones were among the safest on the market, being targeted the least by hackers.  This was partly because these phones are less popular than Android and iOS smartphones, and partly because the operating system was different from that of Windows PCs. Now, even though Windows 10 changed all that with a bold attempt at cross-device integration, Windows phones are still relatively secure.  According to white-hat hacker, Steve Lord, Windows phones are the safest on the market. That being said, with the Windows OS supporting a variety of anti-virus and anti-malware apps, it doesn’t hurt to enlist some added protection.   Mobile Security: Better Safe than Sorry With the amount of mobile use in today’s world, it is no surprise that hackers are beginning to focus on mobile operating systems.  So, despite the differing levels of security across these major operating systems, it is better to have professional security available. Even if your OS isn’t necessarily supportive of anti-virus apps, such as in the case of iOS, it is advisable to have the support of online security services.   And, if you’re ever in doubt over a particular app or link, err on the side of caution. Part 2   Computer hackers have done very well for themselves in the past by stealing online users’ personal information.  And, with almost half of the global population now using smartphones, it is understandable that hackers’ collective focus is quickly shifting to mobile devices. After all, the 44% of the world’s people using smartphones are essentially carrying around miniature computers. So, with hackers now aggressively targeting smartphones, how do mobile device users make sure they are protected?  Here are a few ways in which you can make your smartphone harder to hack: How to Keep Your Smartphone Secure 1.    Install an Anti-Virus AppAs we mentioned in the first part of this look at mobile security, some phones tend to respond better to anti-virus apps than others.  Apple feels that these apps undermine the inherent security of iOS phones, while Google Play offers a plethora of anti-virus apps for Android devices. But, a good rule of thumb here is to choose the best security solutions possible for your device, and make sure to keep it updated. 2.    Beware of Free Wi-FiWhile free Wi-Fi is great, and is a real life-saver if you’re low on mobile data, beware of public connections.  The problem is that these networks are unprotected, which means that your smartphone is easily identifiable and, naturally, hackable. 3.    Don’t Modify Your PhoneDevice modification – referred to as rooting or jailbreaking – is popular amongst some users because it gives them more control over the phone’s capabilities.  Essentially, using a modified device is a bit like using Windows as an administrator. But, the problem with this is that apps downloaded to modified devices have more access to the operating system.  So, malware is able to go much deeper and cause much more damage.   4.    Browse with CareWe have been talking almost exclusively about malicious apps, but there are so many of websites that can compromise your smartphone’s security.  So, in addition to avoiding apps from third-party providers, it is a good idea to stay away from links that seem suspicious. 5.    Consider EncryptionHackers don’t always opt for completely digital theft.  Many find stealing personal information exceedingly easier when they have your smartphone in hand.  After all, you might have your personal details saved on the phone, or on its removable memory card. For this reason it makes a lot of sense to encrypt your phone.  In this case, if it is stolen, retrieving your personal information becomes a great deal harder for the thief.   Use Common Sense for Mobile Security You might find going to these lengths a

Part 1 They all have different sizes and goals, but businesses across the globe are turning to cloud technology at an alarming rate.  And, this goes beyond the idea of simply using cloud storage over on-site servers.  More and more we see businesses turn to cloud systems over traditional, desktop-based software. But, why are businesses making the change?  What are the benefits prompting businesses to adopt this modern way of working?  Well, the following advantages certainly help make the decision easier: How Cloud Systems Enhance Business Processes 1.    Cross-Device IntegrationA few decades ago, before mobile communication, business used to be left at the office.  Now, it moves with us.  But, because business has gone mobile, it makes sense that important data can be shared across devices whilst on the go.  After all, having multiple devices is senseless if your important data is split between them. This is why cloud technology is so vital to modern business.  The cloud allows important data to be accessed on any device – keeping it always at hand.   2.    CollaborationAnother important tool of modern business is synergy.  A team working together will likely produce more effective results than people working autonomously, and do so in a shorter period of time. Cloud systems allow for this collaboration, even if the members of a particular team are separated.  Thanks to online storage, it is possible to share content, calendars, and the like with team members in order to better pool resources.  And, with certain systems facilitating video conferencing and social-media-inspired chat, connecting with a team is made especially simple. 3.    All-Hour AccessOn-site servers mean that any data backed-up at the office can only be accessed from there.  This means that data availability is limited, in these cases, to traditional office hours. However, with a few exceptions, cloud providers generally offer 99.9% uptime.  This means that it is possible to access important data remotely, and at all hours.  In the modern era of global business, this is essential. 4.    Budget ManagementTraditional software solutions often required a large upfront payment for software.  And then, even worse, this required an in-house IT department to manage the servers and maintain the smooth running of the software. Cloud systems, on the other hand, negate the need for costly software and IT departments.  Good systems require no costly upfront fees and they update automatically, meaning that there is no need for an in-house IT department. The downscaling of a whole department means savings in salaries as well as physical space.  Without the need for the IT department’s physical presence, it is possible for a company to decrease the size of its premise, resulting in far better-looking budget. If you need more information about the cloud systems, contact IT support in New York. They will be able answer any of your questions. Cloud to Become Bigger Than Ever These are just some of the many benefits of cloud systems as opposed to traditional computing.  But, based only on these, it is no wonder that cloud systems are likely to become more popular than ever over the foreseeable future. As businesses of all shapes and sizes begin to relinquish old anxieties about cloud systems and trust in the benefits, look for cloud systems to become a staple in business IT.   Part 2 Though cloud technology has been around for quite some time now, it has been approached tentatively by businesses due to security concerns.  But, with cloud security having taken leaps forward in recent years, businesses are starting to flock to this technology based on their leaders’ appreciation of cloud’s benefits. In Part 1 of this look at cloud systems versus traditional, desktop-based software, we pinpointed a few fundamental benefits of cloud technology.  Now, let’s look a little deeper and discuss the broader business benefits of cloud systems: How Cloud Systems Help Businesses 1.    No Physical InstallationTraditional systems required the installation of servers, which would disrupt work processes and cost a healthy dose of cash.  Depending on its complexity, this installation period could result in costly downtime. However, cloud systems don’t require this level of installation.  With no on-site servers, installing cloud systems is as simple as installing the software which the system utilises.  After this initial installation period, it is simply a case of importing email, setting up mobile, and uploading the required data.   2.    FlexibilityThe costs related to traditional computing was always in line with its maximum requirements.  Storage capacity always had to accommodate the system at its most demanding, but the costs would stay in line with this even after demand dipped. Cloud technology, however, allows businesses to save money through flexibility.  Businesses can boost capacity when needed and then scale it back when the system is in less demand.  This way, the costs dip when the capacity does, amounting to valuable savings. 3.    Defence against DisastersThough we all hate to think about them, natural disasters are a reality.  A freak lightning storm or flash flood can do some serious damage to a building, its on-site servers, and its precious data.  This is why storing data off-site via cloud systems is good insurance against such events. 4.    Facilitation of MovementSpeaking of off-site backups, cloud systems are especially useful when moving offices or merging companies.  There is no need for moving or neutralising whole IT departments and moving software to computers piece by piece.  Cloud systems allow for fast and simple integration of new devices and data can be accessed straight away. 5.    Remote StaffIn the modern age of interconnectivity it is fairly common to see companies downsizing their physical premises and having certain employees work remotely.  Cloud systems streamline this process by making teamwork that much easier.  Even if a team is spread out across the globe, it is quite possible for its members to communicate and share files as if they were sitting in the same room.   The Benefits of Cloud Services Cloud systems create a collaborative cohesion that is absolutely necessary in the modern age