Weekly Tech Tips
09/12/2023:
In this week’s tech tips we cover the benefits of using a password manager, why security awareness training is important (and what it is), and why you should probably take a minute and double check a few things before you press that delete key.
Take a few minutes, grab a coffee, and read through the tech tips we’ve gathered this week – let us know which ones helped you!
What Are The Weekly Tech Tips?
As a seasoned Managed IT Services Provider, we’ve encountered a wide array of IT challenges and innovative solutions. Harnessing our extensive knowledge and experience, we curate the best tech tips each week, tailored for decision-makers, technicians, and everyone in between. We invite you to take a moment and explore the valuable insights we’ve shared this week. Our weekly tech tips post encompass time-saving shortcuts, industry best practices, cost-effective strategies, and IT approaches that fuel business expansion.
If any of our tips prove useful to you, we would love to hear your feedback. Let us know which tip(s) resonated with you and how they helped. We also encourage you to share your own tech tips, so we can consider featuring them in our future posts.
The only irreplaceable capital an organization possesses is the knowledge and ability of its people. The productivity of that capital depends on how effectively people share their competence with those who can use it. –Andrew Carnegie
Tech Tips: For The Decision Makers
In the ever evolving landscape of business, the responsibilities placed upon business owners, IT directors, office managers, and other decision makers are extensive and critical for success. Not only do they grapple with the relentless demands of day-to-day operations, but also shoulder the weight of shaping their organization’s future through strategic decision-making.
“Tips for Decision Makers” delves into often neglected, yet crucial, tasks and decisions. Our mission is to empower decision makers with insights that can streamline processes, increase IT security, optimize resource allocation, and enhance overall efficiency. The smallest of improvements can yield significant dividends in the long run, which is why our tips address a wide spectrum of challenges and opportunities that decision-makers encounter.
Have Regular Security Awareness Training
Security Awareness Training is the practice of educating employees and business partners to help identify and avoid cyber-threats in the workplace. It’s a part of an effective security strategy to stop human errors, malicious actors, and insider threats from causing data breaches. Regular security awareness training for employees is not just a best practice; it’s a critical component of modern cybersecurity. End users are the largest, most vulnerable target in most organizations. In real-world attacks, end users are relentlessly bombarded with spear-phishing and socially engineered schemes.
One key reason for conducting regular security awareness training is the human factor in cybersecurity breaches.
While we invest heavily in technological defenses, a significant number of security incidents are still caused by employees who inadvertently fall victim to phishing attacks, click on malicious links, or mishandle sensitive data. According to various reports, a substantial percentage of data breaches are the result of human error or negligence. This highlights the pressing need for ongoing training to educate employees about the latest cyber threats and how to recognize and respond to them.
To put it in perspective, consider the typical safety refresher courses that employees in industries where physical safety is paramount, such as construction or manufacturing, are regularly trained on safety protocols. This is because a lapse in safety knowledge can result in accidents, injuries, or even fatalities. In the digital realm, the consequences of a cybersecurity breach can be just as severe, if not more so. Breaches can lead to data leaks, financial losses, damage to reputation, and legal liabilities. Just as safety training is essential to prevent physical harm, security awareness training is equally vital to prevent digital harm.
Click the link below to learn about Sophos Phish Threat, a powerful and cost effective security awareness training tool that you can use to protect your employees and your business today:
Use a Company Policy Management Tool
Implementing a policy management tool within a company is a strategic move that yields numerous benefits. One of the foremost advantages is the ability to achieve automated compliance. These tools empower managers to assign policies to employees with ease, send automated email reminders for policy review and signing, and track policy views and signatures in real-time. This not only streamlines the compliance process but also provides a clear and auditable record of policy adherence. Furthermore, the capability to generate compliance reports ensures that organizations can readily demonstrate adherence to regulatory requirements, a crucial aspect in today’s increasingly regulated business landscape. Additionally, the ability to schedule policy reviews and signings ensures that policies remain up-to-date and in line with evolving industry standards and legal obligations.
Beyond compliance, policy management tools enhance organization and collaboration within a company. Managers can efficiently share policies with relevant team members, facilitating transparency and accessibility. Collaboration features enable multiple stakeholders to collaboratively edit policies while maintaining a version history for reference. This promotes a culture of continuous improvement and ensures that policies accurately reflect the organization’s evolving needs and objectives. By centralizing policy documentation, these tools reduce the risk of policy fragmentation and ensure that employees have easy access to the most current and relevant policies.
Lastly, policy management tools offer the convenience of policy templates, saving valuable time and effort. Rather than starting from scratch, organizations can utilize pre-defined templates for common company policies. This not only accelerates the policy creation process but also ensures consistency and alignment with best practices. It enables organizations to swiftly adapt to new challenges or changes in regulations by leveraging existing templates as a foundation, ultimately enhancing overall operational efficiency.
If you’re interested in learning more about the best policy management tools to use for your business, click the link below to learn more about Cyberficient’s services and contact us today:
Tech Tips: For Everyone
In today’s interconnected world, technology has become an inseparable part of our lives. It influences how we work, communicate, and unwind.
Whether you find yourself in a bustling office environment, working remotely from the comfort of your home, or simply seeking ways to optimize your personal tech experiences, each week we include a range of general tech tips and best practices cater to all these scenarios and more.
Become a Microsoft Office Expert
Did you know that Microsoft offers a wealth of training documents and videos for all of their Windows and Office software? Microsoft’s Office 365 training website is a valuable resource that offers a plethora of benefits to users, and one of the most notable aspects is its accessibility. It’s completely free and available to everyone, which is a significant advantage in an era where online or in-person training courses can often come with hefty price tags. This free resource democratizes access to essential Office 365 training, making it accessible to individuals and organizations of all sizes, from students to small businesses to large enterprises. It eliminates the financial barrier that might deter individuals from seeking professional training and empowers them to harness the full potential of Office 365 without incurring additional costs.
Moreover, the Office 365 training website is exceptionally well-organized, sparing users from the often time-consuming and frustrating process of scouring the internet for specific training materials. Whether you’re looking for video tutorials, step-by-step guides, or documentation on a particular Office 365 application or feature, this platform offers a user-friendly interface that categorizes resources based on your needs. This ensures that users can quickly locate the precise training content they require, saving them time and effort. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user, this organized approach ensures that you can efficiently access the relevant training materials without navigating through a maze of unrelated content.
The comprehensiveness of the Office 365 training website is another standout feature. It covers a wide spectrum of knowledge levels, from beginner to advanced, making it an invaluable resource for virtually anyone using Office 365. Whether you’re just starting to explore its applications or seeking to master advanced features, you’ll find relevant training materials that cater to your specific needs. This comprehensive approach ensures that individuals and organizations can continuously develop their Office 365 skills, from the basics to more sophisticated applications, fostering greater productivity and efficiency across the board.
Click the link below to go to the Microsoft 365 Training website:
Use a Secure Password Manager
With news of website breaches popping up seemingly every day, using a secure password manager is critical to protect your sensitive and valuable digital identity. While many browsers offer built-in password management features, relying on them can expose you to unnecessary risks. Browser-based password managers have inherent security limitations, including a higher likelihood of compromise if your computer falls into the wrong hands. Furthermore, entrusting your sensitive credentials solely to a browser means placing undue faith in the browser’s security capabilities, which may not be as robust or dedicated as those offered by specialized password management companies.
Instead of relying on browser password managers, it’s wise to consider dedicated password management solutions like Keeper Security, 1Password, or Bitwarden. These tools provide a more comprehensive approach to password security, offering not only secure storage for your credentials but also features like strong password generation, encryption, and multi-device synchronization. By using a dedicated password manager, you gain an extra layer of protection and peace of mind in an increasingly complex online world.
For businesses seeking to enhance their cybersecurity, a dedicated password manager is even more crucial. It helps enforce strong password policies across the organization, ensures secure access management, and provides detailed reporting on password compliance. For both personal and business use, Cyberficient recommends Keeper Security as the preferred choice among password management solutions. Keeper Security excels in its commitment to safeguarding your data, providing all of the expected features of a password manager, while including robust business focused features (such as team password management, BreachWatch dark web monitoring, and more).
Click the link below to talk to us and find out why Cyberficient recommends Keeper Security for Business:
Tech Tips: For The Techs
The best techs are those who generously share the valuable tips they come across every day. This culture of knowledge exchange fosters growth and equips everyone to face new challenges.
When one tech invests a substantial amount of time in solving a complex issue, passing on the solution to their peers becomes a priceless time-saver for anyone encountering a similar problem. We believe in the power of collaboration, and if you have any tech tips you’d like us to share, we encourage you to leave a comment!
Never Delete Anything Without Verifying First
In the realm of technology and IT, the mantra of “think before you delete” holds immense significance. We’ve all been there, and most of us now know that we should exercise extreme caution before hitting that delete button. A great example is the 2017 GitLab outage created by a developer accidentally erasing the entire production database, wiping out 6 hours worth of data from GitLab.com!
There are three main rules to follow when tasked with deleting something important:
First, ensure you’re deleting what you think you’re deleting. Accidental deletions can lead to a cascade of issues, ranging from data loss to system instability. Therefore, thorough verification is essential to prevent unintended consequences.
Secondly, the potential impact on others cannot be underestimated. Deleting files, configurations, or code without verification could disrupt workflows, impede productivity, and cause frustrations among colleagues or users who rely on the technology. Collaborative environments necessitate a sense of responsibility where one’s actions are considerate of others. Deleting without ensuring that no one else needs or will be affected by it is a fundamental principle of responsible IT management.
Last, but arguably the most important rule, having a robust system for restoration and recovery is paramount. Even with careful verification, mistakes can occur, or unforeseen circumstances may arise. Therefore, techs should always be equipped with the tools and processes to quickly restore or recover what was deleted. This minimizes downtime, mitigates the impact of errors, and ensures that the IT environment remains resilient and adaptable.
Click the link below to talk with us if you’re nervous about deleting something important for your company (hopefully before you’ve deleted it):
Pinch a Penny – Making Your Own Ethernet Cables
While the idea of making your own Ethernet cables might seem like a cost-effective way to get cables exactly the length you need for your shiny new network rack project, it often proves to be more trouble than it’s worth in the long run. One major drawback is the time investment required when making cables in bulk. Crafting numerous cables can be a time-consuming process, and when you factor in the labor and effort involved, the savings in material costs become negligible. In many cases, it’s more efficient to purchase pre-made cables in the required lengths, especially for larger projects where time is of the essence.
Another critical consideration is the need to thoroughly test each cable to ensure it works correctly. Cable integrity is vital for seamless network connectivity, and even a single faulty cable can lead to costly interruptions or troubleshooting headaches down the line. Testing each cable meticulously demands additional time and resources, making the DIY approach less appealing from a practical standpoint. Pre-made cables, on the other hand, undergo rigorous quality control checks, minimizing the risk of connectivity issues and ensuring reliability.
Moreover, the availability of bulk Ethernet cables in a variety of lengths and colors provides ample flexibility for project planning. With proper preparation, you can select cables that match your project’s precise requirements in terms of color-coding and length. This eliminates the need for additional effort in crafting custom cables and allows for a streamlined and organized network setup. In summary, while DIY Ethernet cable-making may have its niche applications (such as padding out the day with some hands on work), for most scenarios, the convenience, reliability, and time savings offered by purchasing pre-made cables make it a more practical and cost-effective choice.
Click the link below to talk with us and get help picking out the right cables and vendor for your company’s next big network project:
Who is Cyberficient?
More than just a catchy name, Cyberficient is a customer service focused Managed Services Provider (MSP) made up of seasoned tech professionals who pride themselves on being what your company deserves – the best of the best.
Our focus every single day is on our clients. We provide the guidance, support, and security in all aspects of technology that our clients need to succeed. Our guiding philosophy is that we’re not happy until our clients are happy. The growth and stability of your business is the cornerstone of our success.