Like the dot-com crash of 2001 and the global recession of 2007, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic falls into the category of Black Swan incidents — extremely rare and unpredictable events that cause catastrophic economic damage. Although businesses must scramble to remain operational during a Black Swan event, their long-term survival often depends on what they [...]
Healthcare organizations around the globe are closely monitoring the continued spread of a deadly respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. While officials generally express optimism that the virus will be controlled, they also acknowledge the need to prepare for the worst-case scenario of a global pandemic. Businesses and employers should also [...]
If time is money, then automation is a high-yield investment account. Businesses that automate even just a few tasks that otherwise require manual processes can save hours of work, making them more efficient and productive while also reducing costs and minimizing errors. Time is an especially precious commodity for small businesses operating with limited resources [...]
As we discussed in a previous post, the clock is ticking on Windows 7. The old reliable operating system that provided relief during the Windows 8 debacle will be unsupported after January 14, 2020. You can accept the risk, pay through the nose for Extended Security Updates, or migrate to a new operating system. Migrating [...]
Wired magazine recently reported on the months-long struggles of a large East Coast animal shelter that had its Facebook page hacked. Using social engineering and phishing links, the hacker repeatedly accessed the account of the organization’s director, wreaking havoc on the organization. Despite exhaustive efforts to control access by implementing two-factor authentication, new antivirus software, [...]
Information technology has historically played a supporting role in most organizations. IT systems and applications help to automate and streamline workflows and provide employees with the information they need to make decisions and serve customers. In this traditional model, technology is vital to operations but not necessarily core to business strategy. That’s changing rapidly. Smart [...]
Psychologists claim that first impressions are formed within the first 30 seconds of a meeting, and that brief encounter will set the tone for how the relationship will ultimately develop. Surveys about employee onboarding processes seem to indicate that organizations aren’t putting their best foot forward. One recent study claims that onboarding is a critical [...]
The 2017-2018 flu season is shaping up as one the worst in recent memory. Widespread outbreaks have been reported in every state except Hawaii, although some regions have been hit harder than others. Some states report that flu cases have tripled or more since last year. Alabama has declared a state of emergency. While the [...]
Our last post focused on this year’s SMB and Midmarket Top 10 IT Priorities, IT Challenges and Business Issues report from market research firm Techaisle. Cloud computing ranked as the top IT priority for small to midsize businesses (SMBs) in 2018, thanks to the cloud’s ability to address some of the key business issues these organizations [...]
With limited budgets and scarce resources, most small businesses understand the need to stretch a dollar. This fact is underscored by a new study that finds budget and spending issues at the top of the list of concerns for small to midsize businesses (SMBs) in 2018. The research also shows that these concerns are likely [...]
