Many computer users install an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit and never give it a second thought. However, the lowly UPS is one of the most important devices in the IT environment. You must select the right unit and give it proper care in order to ensure protection against electrical fluctuations. As the name implies, [...]
Each year, Verizon issues a report summarizing the results of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance assessments of Fortune 550 and large multinational firms. According to the 2017 Payment Security Report, 55.4 percent of organizations passed their interim assessment in 2016 compared to only 48.4 percent in 2015. But while those numbers [...]
Superheroes continue to be popular in the movie theaters. New releases featuring Thor, the Justice League, the Avengers, Ant-Man, Aquaman and the X-Men are all slated for release within the next two years. Although some superheroes have a dark side, most use their super powers to fight evil and bring hope and peace during difficult [...]
Although the cloud has undeniably transformed business technology, most organizations still struggle with how to best integrate cloud resources with their on-premises infrastructure. The ability to synchronize and update files held in different physical locations can ultimately make or break your cloud initiative. While a startup businesses might be able to go all-in on the [...]
Artificial intelligence (AI) has long been used as a plot device in science fiction, from the adorable “droids” in “Star Wars” to the more sinister “replicants” in “Blade Runner.” But while human-like, bioengineered androids remain the stuff of imagination, AI is being adopted by a wide range of industries today. Manufacturers have employed robotics for [...]
The Delaware Association for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA) has reported a new email scam targeting nonprofit organizations. The email subject reads: “RE: Action Required: Completed: *Foundation(R)#” and the body of the email includes what appears to be a Dropbox link. The organization reports that several nonprofits, including DANA, have received the email, and that it should [...]
The Better Business Bureau reports that as of June 30 there have already been 2,227 data breaches this year resulting in the theft of more than 6 billion records — exceeding the number for all of 2016. In response to the skyrocketing numbers of breaches, state legislatures around the country are amending breach notification statutes. [...]
In the previous post, we discussed the prevalence of unlicensed software in the workplace. This has not gone unnoticed by the software vendors, especially Microsoft, which is why software license audits are on the rise. Simply responding to an audit is costly enough for a small to midsize business, but penalties and true-up costs can [...]
Is every copy of software installed across your organization properly licensed? Very few can answer this question with any level of certainty. According to a 2016 survey conducted by BSA and IDC, 39 percent of all installed software was not properly licensed. Even in highly regulated industries, software license noncompliance was alarmingly high. For example, [...]
Back in the mainframe era, end-users typically accessed applications via “dumb” terminals that allowed them to enter data and perform various functions. They had little control over the computing environment or their data, relying on IT to develop and implement software, enable access, back up data, and more. Today’s end-users have a broad array of [...]
