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We should mention that we are using a device with the Android 10 OS built in. Not all of these features will be available on older versions of the operating system, but many will be. Basic Power Settings There are some basic settings that you can access from your regular notifications menu on Android 10. First, swipe down from the top of the device, to expose the settings tray. In this settings tray, there is a brightness adjustment slider. Obviously, the lower the brightness on your phone, the less power it will take to display the content on your device. If you toggle the Auto setting on, your device will manage your screen?s brightness and will find a good middle ground between power-sapping brightness and too-dim-to-see. Another basic power setting found in the settings tray is the battery saver. There is Extended and Maximum. The battery saver will: Disable location services when the device?s screen is off Update an app?s contents only when the app is open Prevent apps from working in the background Turn off voice recognition for Google Assistant Today, users can utilize AI to help them configure the battery saver feature to best fit their use. You can set it by user routine, which will use AI to learn how you use your device and set the battery saver option when it is necessary. You can also set it as before, based on the percentage of battery power that is left. To enable the routine-based schedule you will need to: Open the settings app Tap Battery > Battery Saver Tap Set a schedule > Based on your routine To enable the percentage-based option, select Based on percentage in the Set a schedule menu. More Advanced Battery-Saving Options Those are the simplest options you can use to manage your battery, but there are other options in which to get the most out of your device?s power settings. One is to ensure that you have the Adaptive Battery setting turned on. Adaptive Battery will monitor your usage and start to present you with options on how to maximize your battery life while still making your device as user-friendly as possible. To turn Adaptive Battery on, go to Settings > Battery > Adaptive Battery and make sure it?s toggled on. Another way to help stem unnecessary battery use is to get rid of your always-on display. The display is the most battery-intensive part of any smartphone, and while an always-on display presents certain benefits, it isn?t more important than having a device that isn?t battling with power issues all the time. To accomplish this just go to Settings > Display > Lock screen display and toggle off ?Always on?. If you would like to know more about smartphone settings that can help you keep your device running longer, call one of the professional technicians today at White Mountain IT Services at (603) 889-0800.
There is always risk in business. The better your organization can assess–and plan for–risk, the better it will respond after adversity. Here are a few variables that you should see in your business continuity plan: A Threat Matrix – Risk management starts with identifying possible risks. That means all legitimate threats; of which there are quite a few. Take a while considering all the relevant risks to your business and rank them from most likely to happen to least likely. Critical Processes – Outline what makes your business run. Every business relies on critical processes that if interrupted could be devastating to achieving success. Command Chain – Not everyone is a boss. Businesses have a chain of command that should be documented. Be sure to accurately represent how your business works and not just the titles of the people involved. Employee Safety and Evacuation Plan – One part of risk management is to ensure no one gets hurt and that everyone is updated with all relevant information. The first part relies on you having a comprehensive safety and evacuation plan in place. Communication Plan and Contact Information – The other part is to have an idea about who will be the point of contact for each threat. If your marketing office springs a leak and six inches of water rushes in, does your accounting team on the next floor need to be notified immediately? Breaks in continuity mean all breaks and every department should have a point of contact registered in the continuity plan. Backup Processes – One of the big considerations when any threat comes to fruition is data. It is one of the most important assets any company has. Ensuring that your backup and disaster recovery processes are regularly tested and maintaining redundancy is crucial to almost any problem. IT Inventory and Infrastructure – Most businesses don?t have a whole other office ready to go when something fails. Ensuring you know what is in your inventory, how it is used, and how to restore those systems if something were to happen to your physical infrastructure is an important consideration. End of Incident Criteria – When a breach in continuity happens, downtime is most certainly the enemy, but what would be worse is if you are fighting for your business? life and the threat has passed without any notice. Be sure that when a situation comes to light that you have the system in place to be able to review the problem and return to normalcy. A business continuity plan can literally save your business from anything…from a malware attack to a flood. These line-items will help you build a solid continuity plan, but if you really want to hash your plan out, call the IT consultants at White Mountain IT Services. We can help you build a continuity plan that will allow your organization to respond to anything thrown its way. Contact us today at (603) 889-0800.
Talking Collaboration Solutions With many businesses relying on remote teamwork, the collaboration tool has become an essential part of service fulfillment. The modern collaboration software allows people, regardless of their location, to work together towards a common goal. Hosted in a cloud server, the collaboration tool provides the tools, cooperative interfaces, and options necessary to fuel efficient production. Collaboration has been shown to reduce workplace stress and produce market-ready products faster. With a team of people working on a single task, often at the same time, you will see products come to market faster, and service delivery costing less. Collaboration Solution Varieties When we discuss collaboration, we could mean any interface developed to promote the following: Communication – Solutions like VoIP, instant messaging, and dedicated collaboration apps that build better communications through your staff. Conferencing – Allowing for face-to-face meetings (albeit over the computer) can clarify workflows and responsibilities. Coordination – Projects and customer relationships need to be managed properly and there is software designed to help limit inefficiency. Many people are working remotely nowadays so collaboration options, whether they are integrated into a CRM or a communications platform are useful applications that your business can use to keep your offering relevant and your staff productive. If you would like to talk about how to enhance your business? collaboration options, call the IT professionals at White Mountain IT Services today at (603) 889-0800.
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.
