There are several reasons to use a form to collect data for your business, from customer impressions and service needs to employee feedback about internal matters as a means of collaborative decision-making. The trouble comes when it is time to compile all the responses… unless you know how to use the tools at your disposal. For this week’s tip, we’re walking through the process of creating a form that self-populates a spreadsheet using Google’s toolkit.
Small businesses are presented with the challenging prospect of monitoring and policing various IT-related policies that you might have for your network infrastructure and workplace technology use. The difficulty of this notion does little to lessen its importance, however. You need to take action to protect your assets, data, and reputation from the countless threats out there, and ensuring that your employees are properly using technology is paramount to this endeavor.
Securing your accounts against unauthorized access begins with the implementation of a strong password. It’s crucial to recognize that not all passwords offer the same level of protection. Here are five essential guidelines to ensure the security of your accounts. Emphasize Complexity The strength of a robust password hinges on its complexity. Avoid easily predictable combinations like “123456” or “password.” Instead, construct a password that incorporates a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This complexity significantly boosts the resilience of your password, rendering it more resistant to brute-force attacks. Adopt Unique Passwords for Each Account Reusing passwords across multiple accounts poses a common yet perilous risk. Should one account be compromised, all interconnected accounts become susceptible. To mitigate this risk, generate distinctive passwords for each online account. Utilizing a reputable password manager can assist in organizing and securely storing these intricate combinations. Prioritize Length Generally, longer passwords offer greater security. Aim for a minimum of 12 characters and, when possible, opt for even longer passwords. Extended passwords create a more extensive search space, heightening the challenge for attackers to crack them. Consider using a passphrase—a sequence of words or a sentence—for both lengthy and memorable passwords. Regularly Update Your Passwords Given the dynamic nature of the digital landscape and evolving cyberthreats, it is crucial to regularly update your passwords. Establish a routine to change passwords every three to six months, or sooner if a security breach is reported on a platform you use. This straightforward yet effective practice significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Two-factor authentication (2FA) provides an additional layer of security by demanding a second form of verification alongside your password. This typically involves receiving a code on your mobile device or email, which you must enter after inputting your password. Even if a malicious actor obtains your password, the second factor is essential for gaining access. Activate 2FA whenever possible to fortify your account security. For expert guidance in formulating your organization’s cybersecurity strategy, contact our knowledgeable consultants today at (603) 889-0800.
We could go on and on about the benefits of using Voice over Internet Protocol (also known as VoIP) for your business telephone needs. However, it is important that you do everything you can to prepare your network for this kind of utilization. Let’s review a few tips to help make sure your network is properly optimized for VoIP. How to Prepare Your Network for a VoIP Implementation Ensure Your Network Connection is Stable As the name would suggest, Voice over Internet Protocol uses the Internet instead of a standalone infrastructure. For this reason, it is vital that your business’ Internet connection is ready to support this added demand. Otherwise, your vital communications will only create bottlenecks in your network. So, how do you make sure your Internet is up to the task? There are a few steps you need to take. First, you need to know how stable your network is, as a VoIP connection will take up a lot of resources. Therefore, running a speed test will help you establish whether or not your network can support VoIP at all in its current state. This speed test will give you a few important metrics: Latency – how long the data packets containing the VoIP data take to reach you Jitter – how consistent your latency is Speed – how much data can be sent Packet Loss – how many data packets are lost in transit If these results fall short of your expectations, it may be time to upgrade your connection. Equip Your Business Properly Similarly, you must ensure that your network infrastructure is up to snuff. Older pieces of equipment could likely stand for an upgrade, so consider switching to those using Wi-Fi 5 and 6 that are compatible with QoS (Quality of Service) features. If possible, consider using a hardwired ethernet connection for your VoIP needs. Of course, you also need to keep your business secure, and that includes your VoIP implementation. You may want to lean on your business’ trusted IT resource for assistance in securing your network against cyberattacks. Consider Additional Infrastructure Upgrades On a related note, you should turn to this resource for help with adapting your infrastructure to help facilitate the use of VoIP in your business. For instance, it’s totally possible to create a virtualized local area network in addition to your bog-standard local area network to give your VoIP data packets a prioritized place to travel. These Are Just a Few Ways to Help Improve Your Use of VoIP Turn to White Mountain IT Services for more! We help New Hampshire businesses with technology needs and challenges of all kinds, and we can help you with yours. Give us a call at (603) 889-0800 to find out how.
Business technology is known to be remarkably finicky, particularly if you do not have the requisite knowledge to manage and maintain it. After all, there is a reason why you hire an IT department or a managed service provider to handle this role. What happens if your technology fails, though? Do you have a plan in place? What does a plan like this even look like, anyway? Let’s dig into the details.
