Business Solutions & Software Group Blog

Businesses use software throughout their day-to-day operations, but you might have different needs from, let’s say, the small business down the block from you. Even though all businesses have different necessities in terms of software, there are some solutions that are universally helpful for just about any company looking to improve their operations. Let’s take a look at some of them.

With the news that Windows 11 will be released sometime this year, many users are looking to implement new hardware that supports it. However, we want you users of Windows 8.1 to know that we have not forgotten about you; with Windows 8.1’s end-of-life event in 2023 creeping up, we thought we’d focus a bit on how your company can start taking steps to move away from this operating system before it’s too late.

When it comes to network security, there are a lot of complex solutions that solve multi-faceted issues, some so mind-boggling in scope that it is simply overwhelming. Then there are the small-scale solutions that you can implement on a day-to-day basis that can make significant changes over time. Locking your computer is one of these tactics, and it should not be overlooked in your security strategy.

Despite Microsoft’s comments several years back, Windows 10 is indeed not the final iteration of Windows. Microsoft has officially let the cat out of the bag with Windows 11, the latest in its line of PC operating systems. We urge your business to consider the minimum requirements for upgrading to Windows 11 now while Windows 10 is still supported. Let’s take a look at the system specifications and requirements for Windows 11.

Productivity is of critical importance for businesses, but with the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, there are many professionals who are still stuck in crisis control mode and struggling to keep revenue coming in. Let’s take a look at how businesses have been able to make it thus far, despite the circumstances, and how technology has helped to shape the trajectory of this movement.

One of the biggest ways that companies can take advantage of technology in the modern workplace is to utilize what is called virtualization, a process that makes aspects of their infrastructures more accessible. Let’s go over what exactly virtualization is, how businesses can benefit from it, and some examples of how you might use it.

With so many costs of running a company, business owners have a lot to consider, especially when it comes to mobile devices and other remote technology. Many are opting to allow their employees to bring their own devices to the workplace in an attempt to save on these costs. While this practice can be an incredible benefit for some organizations, it also presents a considerable risk to those who don’t actively manage potential problems. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic came many organizations who were forced, at the turn of a hat, to transition to remote work rather than in-office operations. While this came with many twists and turns, ultimately, businesses managed to figure it out in the end, and it’s all thanks to remote technology. Unfortunately, one of the biggest pitfalls of working remotely—security—still plagues many organizations.

Any business owner responsible for drafting documents to explain processes or procedures knows that images can aid in this goal, giving your users a way to fully understand where to click and what to do. For Windows 10 users, there is a great feature built right into the operating system that lets you take screenshots, and we’re not just talking about the Prt Sc key. In fact, this proposed solution is more dynamic than that key could ever be.

Owner who takes their craft seriously has a telephone solution of some sort, even if it is just your traditional landline. But what if we told you that there is a much more dynamic, more flexible solution that offers all of the same features without the headaches associated with landlines? A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solution might be just what you need to revolutionize your communication infrastructure.

Spam filtering is great for keeping dangerous or wasteful messages from clogging up your inbox, but at the same time, there can be times when legitimate emails get flagged and sectioned off by accident. This is especially pertinent to business owners who do frequent outreach to vendors and valued customers. Here are some reasons your messages might get flagged as spam, as well as what you can do about it.

Would you believe us if we told you that the maps we have grown up looking at are remarkably skewed? That pull-down map in the front of every elementary school classroom probably wasn’t to scale, for one reason or another. Modern technology can make it possible for hackers to skew satellite imaging, and this could very well be used in the cybercrime avenue in the future. The developing technology of deepfake images could bring about a whole new type of threat.

Communication tools are one of the cornerstones of any successful office. While you surely leverage certain communication tools, there are others on the market that might be great investments for your organization. Let’s examine some of the many business communication solutions that your company can leverage to its advantage.

For companies that depend on their computing, the workstation plays an important role. The problem with them is that spending big money on computers that are used for general productivity is not cost effective, but if they don’t have the computing power needed to successfully run the software that your company uses, they won’t do you any good. Today, we will talk a bit about hardware considerations you will need to make when choosing workstation hardware, and the cloud-hosted options that may be a good option for your business. 

When you see the words “artificial intelligence,” what runs through your mind? Some imagine warehouses full of machines pulling items from shelves for order fulfillment, whereas others imagine server rooms operating at maximum capacity. The truth of the matter is that both of these scenarios are correct, depending on the type of organization and industry you’re talking about. Let’s take a look at how artificial intelligence can cut costs, improve operations, and eliminate unnecessary or repetitive tasks for the small business.

No matter how new a device is, the unfortunate truth is that it will not last forever. Eventually, you will need to replace your device; the question then becomes what you do with your old technology. While you could just throw it in the trash, this is not only wasteful but also a security risk. In order to protect both your personal data and the environment, you must go through the proper channels to make sure that e-waste gets properly disposed of.

While most people may be most familiar with the concept of the blockchain thanks to cryptocurrencies—particularly with the recent behaviors of some coins—this first application of the blockchain has blossomed into many others with great potential. Let’s go over what blockchain technology is, how it works, and how it can benefit businesses of all kinds.

For years, people have been increasingly worried about the potential onslaught of automation on human jobs. As computer systems and artificial intelligence have improved, there are some legitimate concerns for unskilled workers or those that work in industries where automation is featured. Today, we’ll dive into what concerns workers should have on account of automation and why no one should be panicking quite yet. 

Business technology can be a complicated topic, and with it appearing in more and more aspects of daily operations, it is important for organizations of all sizes to be sure that they have a complete understanding and awareness of how they put their IT to use. These considerations make it imperative that certain best practices are made part of your standard operating procedures… and for this to be accomplished, company leadership will need to lead by example.

For a considerably long time—over 40 years—Apple has staked the claim that their devices are pretty much hack-proof, that most hackers wouldn’t even try breaking into their security measures. Law enforcement was so repeatedly rebuffed by the company as they sought workarounds to get into their devices, that these law enforcement agencies figured it out for themselves.

In doing so, they uncovered a few things that even the most ardent Apple fans may be surprised to hear.