Macro Systems Blog

A significant number of security risks come from the interior of your business. User error on the part of the employee can bring serious issuess for your workflow, data security, and the integrity of your organization. User error could be as simple as an employee clicking on the wrong links when they receive a suspicious email in their inbox, or if they are accessing data that they simply have no business accessing in the first place. There are even situations where organizations completely forget to remove employee credentials when they depart the company, resulting in a vulnerable opening in your network. The bottom line is that user error must be accounted for.

Smartphones have been around for over a decade. When Apple rolled out the first iPhone in 2007, it triggered an enormous shift in the way people access information. Over the past 10 years these devices have gone from somewhat of a novelty to a staple of modern computing. More data is transmitted and accessed by smartphone than by any other means, and Apple has been at the forefront of this computing shift from its inception.

Most small businesses lack the luxury of an in-house IT department. Even if they do have one, it’s likely a small department run by a few people who have are busy with either implementation projects or simply keeping up with the status quo. With opportunities to invest in the improvement of your infrastructure few and far between, a network audit can make you aware of where your network suffers most, and what you can do about it.

Numerous computer users worry about their privacy--and judging by the discussions surrounding the FCC and Net Neutrality, they should be. Now that users are responsible for the privacy of their online activity, they are finding new ways to make sure that corporations are not taking advantage of their Internet activity--mostly through the use of a Virtual Private Network, or VPN.

If you’ve watched the news lately, you may have seen the Equifax breach and the absurd fallout it has caused. Over 133 million personal records have been stolen. While it’s difficult not to feel individually victimized by such a breach, it’s vital to realize that it’s usually not your specific credentials targeted by cyber criminals. Since businesses often hold onto valuable information, they have large targets planted onto them. It doesn’t stop there--any vendors or partners you deal with are also in danger of cyber attacks.

The 2016 United States presidential election was an ugly one for several reasons, including the accusation that hacked voting machines could have altered the outcome of the election significantly. Fortunately, there are steps being taken to alleviate the worries that third parties might alter the outcome of such important events.

Have you ever used Google Maps as a GPS system to help you navigate a trip you are taking? In a lot of ways, Google Maps is even more dynamic than other dedicated online applications, and it’s certainly a better alternative than trying to decipher the lines of an atlas. Google Maps even lets you chart the distance between your location and your destination, which is a great way to get the total distance of your upcoming trip.

In the last few months, there have been several high-profile data security breaches that led to the theft of millions upon millions of non-public information records. Though much of the focus in the aftermath of the breaches was on personal identity theft and prevention, it’s imperative to keep in mind that not all the stolen data records target individuals. Organization entities are also at risk. Vendors and partners that you do business with regularly will probably have record of your company’s non-public information, payment information, or tax ID number.

Your technology is a gateway to productivity, and Microsoft has managed to put together a solid way to use it with their latest operating system. In Windows 10, you can use Windows Ink to doodle or write notes on your screen while using a Microsoft application like Word, PowerPoint, or OneNote.

Have you ever been working on writing a blog article or trying your hand at a formal proposal letter and wondered if your writing was appropriate for your audience? You’re not alone. The readability of a document is such a concern for people that Microsoft Word added a feature that will automatically calculate a document’s readability using the Flesch Reading Ease formula and tells approximate reading level using the famous Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level scale.

Businesses can profit from the use of personal mobile devices in the workplace, but there are also dangers in allowing mobile and Internet of Things devices to access your network. In order to reduce these risks, you need to put some limits and guidelines on the use of such devices in the workplace.

When you think about NFL technology, you probably think that their budget and resources are way out of your league. Surprisingly, some of the most important parts of the game rely on technology that many of us use every day.

Back to school is upon us and then it’s a hop, skip, and jump until the holidays arrive. With more companies allowing their employees to work remotely, holiday travel will mean that people are going to be taking their work on the road with them. Preventing credit card and identity theft has been a priority for shoppers during the season for many years. It’s important that the same security considerations be given to technology being used for business while traveling.

There are numerous surveys and reports produced each year that evaluate digital threats and cybercrime. Not every publication applies to every business - but many of them do have some important take aways regarding the best practices of handling IT. Here’s few highlights from the 2017 Cyberthreat Defense Report that offer important insight for SMBs and their use of technology.

Today most companies utilize computers in the dissemination of their services. Whatever the specifics of your business, you depend on your data. Since most businesses also provide goods and services for many people that indirectly depend on it, having a plan to protect the business from potential devastation is important.

Does your business have trouble keeping data on the company network? This can be an issue if your employees use their mobile devices to do work while on the go. In order to keep this from becoming an issue, you should encourage your employees to not keep sensitive data on their mobile devices, and establish policies that give you control over your data and email on personal devices. That said, let’s show you how to get your data off of your Android device and back on your network where it belongs.

You have a worker who wants to save your business money on a piece of business software. They find a “free” version of it on the Internet and assume they have found you a bargain deal. What you and your employee don't realize is that there is an agency out there that’s specifically looking for organizations like yours that don’t keep track of their software licensing, just to make a quick buck off of copyright infringement.

In February of 2016, President Barack Obama passed a Cybersecurity National Action Plan. The plan performed near-term actions and developed a long-term game plan to intensify cybersecurity awareness and protections, protect privacy, and preserve public safety. Taking action against cybersecurity now will assist with ensuring economic and national security, as well as empowering Americans to take better control of their digital security.

Is Google Chrome your preferred browsing experience? While you might find it to be great for your business or personal browsing needs, you can enhance the experience significantly through the use of keyboard shortcuts. Here are a few of the best shortcuts that you can use to get more use out of your Google Chrome browser.

As a business owner, you expect to stay in control of what your business does. Unfortunately, there are certain variables in running a business that simply can’t be controlled, like the weather. Therefore, you need to take special care to ensure that these uncontrollable instances don’t become a threat to your business’ prolonged existence. To this end, we recommend a business continuity plan.