by Martin Danner | Jan 6, 2017 | Cloud, Going Digital
As you consider going digital, it’s important to ask this fundamental question: is cloud technology right for my business? Let’s examine the pros and cons. Cloud technology refers to apps and services you access through the Internet. As more businesses switch on to “going digital”, the use of cloud technology has seen massive growth in recent years. To help you determine if going digital is right for your business, we thought we’d explain just what “going digital” means as well as weighing up the pros and cons – so you can make informed decisions about the IT solutions, best for your business. What Does It Mean To ‘Go Digital’? Going digital encompasses the idea of making business easier through streamlined IT solutions. This is typically achieved through cloud-based IT services, such as collaborative document management, online data storage and online services. Mobile devices have also experienced tremendous growth as business tools too and technology has adapted to pair the two. Going digital also refers to better practices and infrastructure for online security, reducing the likelihood of cyber-attacks resulting in damage to your systems or data loss. The Pros of Going Digital Anytime, Anywhere Access – “Going digital” means you are no longer tied to a particular computer or geographic location to complete daily tasks. Simplified Infrastructure – Replacing expensive servers and desktop software with online services that can be accessed through a variety of devices, frees up budgets for other IT solutions and decreases the stress and burden of Involuntary IT Managers. Resilience & Business Continuity – You don’t have your business tied to server in the office. If there’s a... by Martin Danner | Nov 10, 2015 | Cloud Tips, Going Digital, Security, Tips & Techniques
Does your email smell phishy? Sounds like a silly question, but this sort of email scam is a very real and serious problem. Please take a few minutes to learn more about this threat and what you can do to avoid it. A few months back one of our customers was the victim of an phishing attack. The thieves stole $50k from their business bank account. This theft was the result of an authentic looking email from the bank requesting the user to update his customer information. The link took him to a website made to look exactly like the bank’s website – convincing enough that he logged onto the site with his username and password. Gotcha. The crims used this information to log into the real bank site and clean out the company checking account. Fortunately the money was recovered, but the experience was very disruptive and stressful for all involved. This type of computer crime is a huge problem. It’s known as phishing – the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information. Some attacks, like the one our customer experienced, are designed to gain access to financial accounts. Here’s a good example of a phishing email, disguised as an official email from a fictional bank. The sender is attempting to trick the recipient into revealing confidential information by “confirming” it at the phisher’s website. Note the misspelling of the words received and discrepancy. Also note that although the URL of the bank’s webpage appears to be legitimate, the hyperlink would actually be pointed at the... by Martin Danner | Oct 19, 2015 | Going Digital, Paperless Office
Is your business plagued by the paper monster? Here are some tell-tale symptoms: You have multiple cabinets full of files dating back to the stone age. Your “to file” box is filled to the brim. Filing all those paper documents takes too much time. So maybe you keep putting it off, making the “to file” box ever more intimidating. Paper documents are scattered throughout the office. Each person has their own filing system which may contain documents that others need to access. You have difficulty finding the document you need when you need it, causing frustration and in some case real panic. If you experience some or all of these symptoms, then you might want to look into going paperless! Of course, no business will ever be completely without paper documents. There will always be paper documents you’ll want to keep for legal, compliance, or other reasons. The goal behind going paperless is to keep the amount of physical paper to an absolute minimum, whilst keeping the bulk of your business documents in electronic form that is secure yet easy to access. Key to Success I’m going to highlight the key factors for success. To learn more specifics, consider attending the Going Paperless workshop at the ICEHOUSE. Also, feel free to contact me for more information. Reduce the volume of incoming paper. Eliminate as many paper statements and invoices as possible. A growing number of banks and vendors offer the option of receiving their statements and invoices electronically. Do it. Plan the workflow. Think about how you’re going to manage all those electronic documents. It helps to think of... by Martin Danner | Jun 4, 2015 | Going Digital, Millennials
The rise of the Millennials is changing the way business operates. This generation of digital natives is made up of people born between 1981 and 1997 (18 to 34 years old). If you’re an employer or community leader, you should be especially interested in the Millennials. Here’s why… According to Statistics New Zealand, this age group is rapidly dominating the New Zealand labour force. Over the past 10 years, while Baby Boomers have been quietly retiring, Millennials have been steadily on the rise. Millennials now make up the single largest age group in the New Zealand labour force, and they’ll make up the majority of the labour force within five years. These changing labour demographics this will have a profound impact on communities throughout New Zealand. I recently presented a workshop on “Going Digital” in Wanganui. I asked the workshop participants if young people were staying in Wanganui or leaving for better opportunities. They said that by and large the young people were leaving. Wanganui is a lovely small city that offers many attractions for young people. Housing is affordable, no traffic jams, a good place to raise children, and recreational opportunities galore. But that’s still not quite enough to attract Millennials – or keep them from leaving. According to various research studies, Millennials want work that is challenging and meaningful. They want work/life integration. And they’re digital natives who want to be connected whenever and wherever. They’re a talented, well-educated bunch who make things happen. Forutnately, communities like Wanganui have been given a wonderful gift: UFB. It’s a key enabler for making communities attractive to this important generation. But...
Recent Comments