VPN Explained A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a tool used by individuals and businesses, alike, to create a secure connection with resources stored on private infrastructure. Essentially it provides an encrypted pathway to send and receive data and is available from anywhere that there is an Internet connection. Regrettably, cybercriminals target the front end of the VPN solution and it?s causing some organizations to rethink their remote security strategies. How are VPNs at Risk? Like every cybersecurity tool, the VPN aims to keep unauthorized people out of your business. The problem starts with the often-public networks used to access the private networks using the VPN. Hackers make a point to target these public networks, and since a VPN is an Internet-facing system, users are exposed longer than they would be if they were just hooked directly into the private network they are accessing resources on. Hackers run their own code to access the secure endpoint, steal data, install viruses and other malware, and sabotage systems from the inside, presenting major problems for any business. Patched Software Wins Again This may concern you, but if your VPN software is routinely patched, these problems will be few and far between. It?s as simple as installing the new firmware and software patches released by the developer in a timely fashion. With up-to-date software, the risk of a data breach is significantly reduced. At White Mountain IT Services, we offer a comprehensive patch management platform designed to close vulnerabilities and keep unwanted entities out of your business? network. If you would like to talk to one of our IT experts about getting a reliable VPN for your business, call White Mountain IT Services today at (603) 889-0800.
What is a Point of Sale System? The point of sale system is pretty much precisely what it sounds like: the system in place at the point of any sale. Starting with the 1879 invention of the cash register and culminating (so far) in the various computerized cash registers that we use today, the POS system has come a long way, which has contributed various advantages to the businesses that make use of them. The basic idea behind the use of a point of sale system is to help eliminate as many human errors and inconsistencies as possible, while maximizing a business? productivity at the point of a customer?s checkout. While this once meant that a POS system was little more than a cash drawer with a calculator attached, technology has provided a great many more features that businesses appreciate in their operations. Let?s go over some of these features. Big Data Insights By collecting and compiling data, a modern POS system can supply even a small business with data-driven insights and simplified reports to reference. This data is valuable, as it can help suggest trends and other influencing factors that can be used to help improve sales and other critical metrics in turn. The integration of customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities has only boosted the benefits to be had by a business owner. Consolidation When ecommerce first came into the fold, businesses found themselves separately managing two separate data sets?those that were generated by their POS system, and those that were generated through online transactions. Today, modern POS systems use a centralized dashboard, where all a business? data can be synchronized. As a result, the complications of keeping your transactions in line with your inventory are eliminated. Mobile-Friendly Functionality Cashless and contactless solutions have exploded in popularity, as of late, both for their convenience to the customer and the health benefits that contactless payments present. With projections describing 75 percent of all transactions as cashless by 2025, it is no wonder that POS systems that accommodate these payments will be in demand. Taking all of this into consideration, the logical course of action for any business is to embrace the advanced options offered by modern point of sale technology. White Mountain IT Services can help. Learn how we can do so by calling (603) 889-0800.
Risk Management Goes Both Ways Business owners tend to focus on their business, which is what you would expect them to do, but their business usually involves other people. When they start handing out mandates that they think will help the business, the other people involved (the employees) may not share that view. That is because most workers want to do well at work, but they leave the health of the company to the people in charge of it. When you recall all the people that have either been laid off, or working from home, back to the office, you should consider for a moment what is going through their minds. First of all, for the people who were laid off, they are probably thrilled to get back to work. Even with government subsidy over the past few months, most workers will take home as much or more in salary than they do when they aren?t working. For the group of workers who were working from home, however, they will almost certainly hate coming back to the workplace. This is because to them, COVID-19 is still going strong and they are scared of getting sick. To them, the risk isn?t worth the reward. That?s why you need to explain why you are calling them back?and mean it. If your staff has been busting hump for you over the past three months from home, and your only reason to recall them to an office environment where they (think they) have a much better chance to get sick is because you don?t trust them working from home, expect some pushback. Ultimately, you are the captain of the ship, but making fast and loose decisions (or decisions that seem fast and loose) with other people?s health, expect to squelch a mutiny or two. Don?t Open Just Because Seriously, if your staff is working well enough from home to keep revenue at a place that allows you to keep your doors open, why bother bringing your staff back to the workplace? Obviously, if you need people to man the store, you can?t just stay closed, but for office workers that can do their job from their favorite chair at home, why even consider exposing any of them to the anxiety and anger that goes into that? If it’s to bump up productivity, consider that many businesses shut their doors and will never reopen. At least your business isn?t losing you money. If You Have to Open, Preach Safety Many businesses that were deemed essential, haven?t closed at all. People still go to work, they wear a mask, they try to wash their hands as much as possible, they try to stay away from their co-workers or customers. If your business is one that needs to be open to sustain itself, be sure to emphasize safety. That means doing all those things listed above. Moreover, you should do what you can to keep your employees safe. You should provide hand sanitizer, soap, masks, and all the other resources they need to improve their piece of mind. Scared, angry people that are preoccupied with getting sick aren?t productive workers. Do what you can to ensure that if you need them to be out in harm?s way, that you take the steps necessary to protect them. Mental […]
Track Your Hardware The first part of your inventory strategy is surprisingly an analog one. Well, kind of. You will want to inventory all of your hardware. That includes servers (and server components) all the way down to your organization’s extra mouses (did you know that multiple computer pointing devices can technically be referred to as mouses, and not mice?). The best way to go about doing this is to get yourself a label maker. No kidding. Today, there are label makers that are under $100 that allow users to print out labels with barcodes or qr codes on them. Tagging your hardware with labels that tell you everything you need to know about the item when the code is scanned can go a long way toward helping you manage your business? physical inventory. Inventory Management The second part of a comprehensive inventory strategy is to utilize an inventory management platform. An inventory management system (IMS) is a tool that provides users with a way to track goods across your business. An IMS can provide your business with the transparency it needs to cut down on redundancy as well as manage your technology and other inventory. Using IMS software, you can set up a lot of automated processes that can automatically order items, alert staff to restock items, and much more. For the inventory management platform to work, however, you will want to ensure that yours delivers the following features: Barcode scanner – An obvious addition that allows quick information on any tagged item. Optimization – Make sure that you have the right amount of a product. Overstocking and under-stocking can be problematic for numerous reasons. Report generation – Being able to view sales history, manage current inventory, manage sales levels and more. POS integration – One beneficial strategy is to integrate your point-of-sale system and your IMS. Purchase order management – Get an IMS that gives you a single view of purchasing records. Some inventory management systems come with additional features that automates warehouse management and gives you a look at product demand. For the average business that is just using their IMS to inventory their own assets, some high-end platforms may be overkill. The point is to be able to manage the assets you have. If you would like to talk to a professional technician about an inventory management system or just discuss the best practices of keeping your technology managed properly, call White Mountain IT Services today at (603) 889-0800.
Restarting Projects While your employees were doing DIY home improvement projects, your business? improvement projects have laid dormant. As the new normal will present situations that were not only rare a short time ago, they are not completely aimed at improving your business? situation in the same manner as the projects you had planned before this whole thing hit. If your strategy is like many other businesses, you will have to be cautious to not put your employees in harm’s way. With a projected second wave of COVID-19 still possible, it?s going to be important for project teams to forge ahead even if they are being forced to work from remote locations. One of the best collaboration tools you have at this point is your video conferencing solution. Not only does it give your team the ability to meet with each other from remote locations, solutions today are built with the ability to integrate some of your most important software into the meetings. These integrations can go a long way toward giving your project team members the resources they need to efficiently and effectively complete difficult projects. Collaboration Strategies Sad to say, solid collaboration isn?t just the act of people working together. True collaboration is measured in the successful delivery of professional goods and services. If your project teams need to work together to get your offerings out the door, and they are being forced to work remotely, invest in a video conferencing solution that provides both an option-rich interface with the ability to interact as a team or one-on-one. This is crucial because the more time you spend in meetings, the less time is spent being actually productive, even if the meetings contents are critical to the success of the project. Once you have a reliable conferencing solution in place, you can use it to run point over operational difficulties, projects, and even whole staff meetings. Here are some suggestions on how to use your video conferencing solution to get the most out of your team. Don?t be brief to save time – Many people will try to keep meetings as short as possible. That?s actually a good practice, but if your team needs communication on the specifics of a project or task, brevity may be counterproductive. Don?t send too many messages – Do you follow up using instant message, email and phone? This is completely overkill. With a video conferencing platform, you can quickly address all the issues present for that day at once, not over multiple forms of communication. If things do require a write up after the fact, assign one person to compose meeting minutes. Don?t just use the video conference for work – Part of working for a company is the camaraderie your staff shares. Things like birthday parties and staff meetings can be a respite from the continual flow of work-related information. Using video conferencing for collaboration means having a strategy that both keeps people connected while reducing the feeling of anxiety that comes from being overwhelmed with information. If you would like to talk about video conferencing solutions that can help your business get the most out of your remote staff, call the IT experts at White Mountain IT Services today at (603) 889-0800.
