Let?s discuss this means for your business? security. The Discovery In mid-January, a team of cryptography researchers published a report that detailed their findings after closely examining the security measures that were implemented in modern mobile devices. Their study, entitled Data Security on Mobile Devices: Current State of the Art, Open Problems, and Proposed Solutions, sought to determine three things: What security measures are currently in place to help deter unauthorized access to user data How unauthorized access is obtained on modern devices How mobile security can be improved to prevent unauthorized access moving forward After an in-depth analysis of both platforms, the results were clear, but could still surprise a loyalist to Apple and their reputation for untouchable security. While both operating systems performed admirably, neither Android nor iOS had extensive enough security preparations?enabling anyone who had the right equipment, so to say, to access the operating systems. While the report did state that the researchers were able to ?find a powerful and compelling set of security and privacy controls, backed and empowered by strong encryption? in iOS, these tools simply were not used consistently enough to sufficiently secure these devices. Android?s issue laid more in the diversity of phones and manufacturers that Android can be found in, with lacking communications between Google and phone developers, slowly implemented updates, and differences in software architecture leading to inconsistencies in the platform?s security and privacy controls. Both platforms share a weakness where their data is synchronized with cloud services. Mind you, these are all vulnerabilities in the physical device and its software infrastructure itself. In the rest of the report, the researchers detailed the specific vulnerabilities that each platform presents. Apple-Specific Weaknesses Apple enables users to securely store their data in its iCloud cloud solution, but according to these researchers, that?s not all the data that Apple takes possession of. When the service is initially activated, a ton of other user data is sent to Apple, where it is remotely accessible by lawbreakers and law enforcement alike (although one of these parties would need a subpoena for it). Adding to the security concerns, the defenses that Apple had included in their devices against unauthorized use even seem to be less effective than originally thought. Based on analysis of available evidence, the research team hypothesizes that a tool has existed since 2018 that enables an attacker to bypass these protections and effectively guess a user?s passcode. Android-Specific Weaknesses Android presented some serious problems in its local data protection measures. One glaring example can be found in Android?s equivalent of Apple?s Complete Protection encryption (which removes decryption keys from the device?s memory after it is locked). The big difference between Apple?s solution and Android?s solution is that Apple?s solution exists, whereas Android retains these keys?making them easily capturable. Hence, why the Federal Bureau of Investigation can access either platform without assistance. What Does All This Mean? Frankly, while these discoveries are unwelcome, they aren?t all that surprising. It is never wise to assume that data is inherently safe, just because it happens to be stored on a particular brand of device. There is no such thing as impenetrable security, so you need to do everything you can to make sure the data that your business possesses?that your users might have access to from […]

Social Media If there is one hot-button issue surrounding technology, it would be about social media. Once viewed as the next great technology that will connect all humankind, it is now largely looked upon as big tech that is trying to mine your profile for data, intercept your communications, and even fuel insurrections. All of this is true, by the way; but for every negative situation social media has put society in, it has delivered dozens of positive ones. Not only has it connected people in ways that weren?t possible before, it also expands the ability for people to learn, to work, and to involve themselves in society. In fact, social media has done more to civilize the world than it does to rip it apart.  Businesses of all types have been able to grow their organizations through the engagement made possible through social media. News and current events are delivered within seconds of an event. Millions of opinions are shared, conversations are had, and resolutions are found faster than ever possible. Social media has been behind the rise and fall of world leaders, the push to combat climate change, and many more political and social issues.  In the future, social media will expand, with more and more people utilizing services offered by SM companies. Educational opportunities will continue to increase. Social media will continue to be some of the most important marketing platforms available to businesses. Social media will likely become mobile commercial hubs that provide opportunities for businesses to expand further by using free services that can be accessed anywhere at any time.  Sure, social media has its cons, but the pros outweigh them by a wide margin.  Infrastructure For decades technology has been making transportation safer, but humankind is on the precipice of a giant shift in the way that technology is accessed. Not only are we only years away from widespread use of autonomous vehicles, there is technology being developed, led by billions of Internet-connected devices to make our cities and villages more efficient and more effective at sustaining an improved quality of life. Infrastructure is the backbone of any society, and today’s infrastructure is being developed with the Internet of Things. This means that public works, which largely depend on continual maintenance and human assessment, will be built with AI-fueled systems. Public water, traffic, electricity, Internet-delivery, will all be automated to build buildings, streets, and whole cities that are smarter and much more efficient. A society where human error and corruption is marginalized will only be better for the people who live in it.  Mobile Communication Communication technology has been evolving for centuries. Today, with a global pandemic forcing our hands, we?ve established new baselines for communication. Not only is a vast majority of communication conducted with the use of mobile devices (a notion that seemed unlikely only three short decades ago), but today with the use of video conferencing technology, we can be about anywhere in the civilized world and see who we?re talking to regardless of their position to us. The technology we use today is right out of 2001: A Space Odyssey.  It doesn?t end there. Today?s businesses use this technology to move faster, do more, and extend their authority past the confines of their brick and mortar office. Each year, new […]

Introducing Confidential Mode in Gmail We?ve all seen the spy movies where an agent?s briefing contains instructions to destroy the message inside to ensure that the details it contains are never leaked?sometimes, the message itself is rigged to take care of the destruction on the agent?s behalf. Think of Gmail?s confidential mode as a digital version of that: you can send an email to another user (regardless of the email client they use to read their messages) that will expire after the amount of time you specify. You can even add an extra layer of security by sending your recipient a passcode via text message that they must provide to read the message at all. Let?s go over the process for creating such a message in Gmail. How to Use Gmail?s Confidential Mode First, there?s the obvious step: accessing Gmail. Start your message by clicking the Compose button at the top-left of the page. In the window that appears, you?ll find a row of icons next to the Send button, one of which appearing as a padlock and clock. This is the button to Turn confidential mode on/off. Clicking it will pull up the Confidential mode window. There, you can set the message?s expiration date to meet various options, ranging from a day to five years, and even require the user to input a passcode that Google will generate, either sending it to their email or via SMS. If you do require a passcode, you?ll be prompted to provide the phone numbers for both you and the recipient. The mobile version of Gmail also offers confidentiality, with a very similar process. To compose a confidential message, open the triple-dot menu and?selecting Confidential mode?set it to your preferences. While any information sent over the Internet cannot have its safety guaranteed, encrypting your more sensitive emails is certainly advisable. For more handy IT tips, security best practices, and the like, make sure you keep coming back to our blog!

Reasons to Implement Technology Businesses are consistently looking to work new technology into the way they do things. This wasn?t always the case, but today, where companies have to find more to do with less, it is a safe bet that your average business owner will try to patch the holes with technology. Obviously, this is a sound strategy as long as there are some tempered expectations of what your business is going to gain by trying to utilize technology in this fashion. Some things will work, some won?t. Can your business afford a wait-and-see approach?  This is why any business that is looking to technology to improve their business has to understand what technology they are already using, how a new technology would pair with that other tech; and, most importantly, how their staff would be able to function with the new software in place.  Shifts in operational technology strategies can take some time to acclimate to, and if you commit to technology investments that don?t work to immediately improve productivity or efficiency, there is a good chance that you won?t see the return you are looking for.  Is This Technology Investment Prudent? The benefits of a properly-deployed solution can be massive, but is that right for your business? Let?s look at some questions you should ask before signing off on a new technology investment.  Are You Deploying the Right Tech? When shifting gears and deploying new software, businesses often have a period of time where transition makes things difficult. Obviously, you?ll need to successfully implement the technology, you?ll need to train your people up, and you?ll need to create a support strategy. Doing all that well will typically provide the results you are looking for? unless the technology you implemented doesn?t solve the problems it was supposed to; or, worse yet, creates a whole set of new problems that make it look like a giant waste of strategic resources.  The IT professionals at White Mountain IT Services can help you completely avoid these problems. We can do an assessment and provide you with solutions that will absolutely address the problems you’re having without the headache of trying to implement technology and keep your business running.  A Partial Upgrade If you have workers that have been with you for years, and you?ve been using the same technology the whole time, it can?t be a big surprise when they have difficulties acclimating to a new solution. It can actually make you leave antiquated systems in place because the cost to train your people up is too high. Sure, you need to know that your people can do the work you need them to do with the tools you provide, but if you run into this issue, finding solutions that allow you to leverage automation can really help your business. The technology you use, as useful as it is, pales in comparison to having an efficiently running business. Being able to automate mundane and repetitive tasks can take some of the pressure off your workforce. Partially upgrading, or upgrading in phases, might just be the way to go.  If you would like to discuss this or any other technology issue you may have, call us today at (603) 889-0800.

Inventory As anyone who has had to handle it could tell you, handling a business? inventory is a major pain. However, solutions now exist that?by automating these processes?help to effectively eliminate it from someone?s to-do list. While this benefit is particularly relevant to retail outlets and other businesses that deal with direct sales, there are benefits to be had for any business whose operations require supplies of some sort. Just consider how much paper many businesses still go through throughout their operations, and how much time goes into ensuring that there is enough on hand for these operations to continue. Now consider that these procedures could be easily carried out with minimal involvement from your employees, both saving time and reducing the risk of user error. Human Resources The HR department carries a ton of responsibility, so it only makes sense to do everything possible to simplify these processes. Automation makes this far more feasible by taking much of the typical workload off your HR resource?s plate. Seeing as very few people actively enjoy paperwork, providing a means to attend to most of it with little effort will be a change that your HR department is sure to appreciate. After all, this allows them to leave their desk more often and spend more time with the employees they act as your representative between? ultimately adding to the company?s incoming cash flow. Workflow Automation Finally, we must address the complexity of your processes?or, more specifically, the potential hang-ups and oversights that could occur within them and throw your operations off schedule. Whether you are trying to ensure that information is properly filed away, that the right status updates are getting to the people who need them, and that everything is shipshape to securely fulfill your clients? expectations, automation can prove to be an asset with visible benefits. Fortunately, there are solutions available that can see to all of these needs and can be easily implemented? provided that you reach out to White Mountain IT Services. Our team of IT experts can help you adopt the strategies that will ensure your business is the well-oiled machine your clients and customers want it to be. Give us a call at (603) 889-0800 to learn more about how we can be of assistance.