So, here’s what you need to know about password policies: they are one of many security tools to protect your company’s data. When putting together a security plan for you company, you should always consider adding a password policy for all of your staff to use for business accounts. What Are Password Policies? Password policies…

VOIP Phones: what are they and are they right for you? VOIP phones or Voice Over Internet Protocol phones are devices or software systems that use the internet to make calls. Instead of using traditional wired pathways and cell towers, data travels over your internet connection to your VOIP phone provider and then out to…

Staying organized while working from home can be a challenge. Whether it’s your kids distracting you or Zoom fatigue hitting during the workday, it’s easy to feel disorganized when your home and your work is in the same place. However, there are some helpful tools you can use to keep your work schedule and to-do’s…

PC Remote Login – What Method is Right for You? Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and Remote Desktop Protocols (RDP) are two popular methods of connecting to network resources while working outside of a physical office environment. If you’re working remotely now, there’s a good chance you are using one of these two methods to access…

Protect Your Accounts with Multi-Factor Authentication. Multi-Factor Authentication is the industry standard for account protection and information security. Multi-Factor Authentication, or MFA, is a method of gaining access to an account you own (an application, website, network, etc.) by using both a traditional username and password login and a second, separate form of identify verification.…

Zoom Fatigue is real. It’s the exhaustion you feel after hours and hours spent on video calls. The term is relatively new and has been experienced at higher rates recently due to COVID-19 forcing many employees to work from home and attend meetings remotely. Even though it’s called “Zoom” Fatigue, it refers to any kind…

By Joe Couillard, Client Relationship Manager   Just like a handyman has their tool bag when they head to a job, we have our own IT tool bag we use to support our clients. Through the 25 years we’ve been in this business, we’ve carefully selected tools that enable us to communicate efficiently, provide a…

  In 2020, one of the most important qualities your company can possess is adaptability. Harvard Business Review is calling it “the new competitive advantage.”  The big question is, how does one become adaptable? Short-term planning and goals are important to every business’s ability to be successful now. But what about your business’s long-term success?…

  For most small nonprofits, many of your employees wear many different hats. And with that busy-ness and focus needed to serve the people you do for your organization, you need the best tools to help you do that as well as innovative technology that’s reliable and easy-to-use. Technology is important in every industry, but…

  This year the whole world was reminded of the importance of healthcare. Even though the majority of healthcare heroes haven’t been able to work from home, there have been some healthcare workers that have been able to do their jobs remotely as they all work tirelessly to protect the health of their patients. With…

  As a manufacturer, in order to keep things going and your business growing, you have to invest in the best technology. Manufacturing and technology Some important tech tools and systems for success in the manufacturing industries are automation tools, accounting systems, phone systems, virtual manufacturing, and CRM software. Automation tools aid in meeting the…

  As the owner of a CPA firm, you have a lot riding on your shoulders. When most or all of your staff and/or your client base is working from home, making sure you have the right policies in place and the right tools and techniques to manage any potential challenges is a number one…

We’ve found that many businesses were caught off guard by COVID-19 and state-mandated shutdowns because they weren’t prepared to move their employees to a remote workforce. Things like USB headsets, wireless keyboards and mice, PC monitors, and even servers became a hot commodity….and instantly twice as expensive. Now, months after the initial outbreak and shutdown,…

  Cloud computing and storage are rapidly becoming a part of the business landscape, but are they right for you? Here are some things to think about when considering migrating to the Cloud. What is the Cloud? Think of the Cloud as an offsite data repository. Instead of having a physical server in your office…

For some companies in the manufacturing industry, not all staff can be Work From Home. There are people that have to stay in the warehouse and maintain safety measures by wearing masks and social distancing. But technology has made it easier for manufacturing staff to work from home, keeping in close connection and collaboration with…

Non-profits and foundations everywhere are needing to adjust everything about the way they conduct business. As we move from central offices to home offices, the biggest question remains on making sure data and information is accessible to the company and its employees. It also needs to be secure from hackers and cyberthreats. The answer is…

As we find ourselves in a “new normal” created by COVID-19, companies have had to adjust everything about the way they conduct business. And one of those bigger adjustments is the need for everyone to have a viable work from home technology solution. But, as we move from the corporate office to home offices, the…

The health and safety of your employees is the utmost importance when returning back to work. After all, they are the lifeblood of your business. Protecting them and providing for their needs seems like a pretty great investment of time and resources, doesn’t it? Empathizing With Your Employees Your employees are the heart of your…

Most businesses have been impacted in some shape or form because of COVID-19 and now is a great time to create a business disaster recovery (BDR) plan. COVID-19 impacted all aspects of your business like revenue, furloughs, your staff working remote, and how you use technology. Now that we’re seeing light at the end of…

It’ll most likely take months or years to get back to a semblance of normalcy. And that’s okay. The question is how you can balance safety and productivity in your workplace. Identify key areas of business The first thing to do is identify the key areas of your business that cannot work from home. That…

We’re now several weeks into most states starting to open post-coronavirus crisis. The first thing you might be wondering as a business owner is how to reopen safely, as well as how to leverage technology to keep productive while transitioning. Technology transitions for your business First, you’ll need to consider risk factors that you hadn’t…

As your staff makes the transition back to your office you’ll find some of your employees are not ready due to personal health concerns to come back to the office. There also may be a possibility that certain employees thrive more working from home. If that works for your company, there are some very important…

  Working from home is the new normal for a lot of workers in the US and around the world. There has been much debate about working from home and whether or not it’s a productivity boost or productivity drain. Skeptical managers envision employees lying on their couches at home in Metallica concert t-shirts eating…

Companies that previously laughed at the idea of working from home are now desperately wondering how to keep themselves and their employees productive during the realities of work-from-home-life. It’s become clear that remote working policies should be covered by your BDR (business disaster recovery) plan as well as hygiene and social distancing for those who…

Within this new coronavirus crisis many companies are implementing mandatory or voluntary working from home procedures, some never having done this before. Some businesses might feel like you’re less productive and less visible from home. In light of that, here’s some tips to help you make the most of your time at home and still…

A large part of preparing for the current coronavirus crisis is having a plan in the event that most or all of your employees need to stay at home or self-isolate. This is a great time to draw up a BDR (business disaster recovery) plan to ensure continuity of business or update your existing one.…

The once skeptical manager on whether working remote would benefit (or hurt) their company, need not be skeptical any longer. We’re all being forced to consider working from home, like being shoved in the small of the back, into a reality only once imagined in an H.G. Wells novel. With the current coronavirus situation, companies…

The days of your employees and staff working 100% percent of their work lives under the same roof are gone. You might have a few employees who DO primarily work in one place, but the coronavirus situation has taught us all a few lessons about being prepared for your staff to not work in your…

Businesses around the world are starting to wonder exactly what the coronavirus (dubbed COVID-19) means to them, and how they should prepare for the virus if an outbreak happens closer to home. At Solution Builders, we believe that the safety of our employees and customers is paramount. We also believe that businesses should be able…

  We’ve talked with you before about the vitality of working cybersecurity into your training program for new and existing employees. (read it here!) When a breach in security happens, it can cause huge problems for your small business and while your employees can be your greatest asset, if they’re not trained properly in cybersecurity,…

  We all know that good things have to come to an end, and Windows 7 is no exception. Come January 2020, Windows 7 end-of-life will begin. What does Windows 7 end-of-life actually mean? Well, starting January 14, 2020, Windows 7 will cease to have support. End of support encompasses three main areas: technical support,…

  Your employees are your greatest asset, but if they’re not properly trained in cybersecurity, they can also be one of your greatest liabilities. With that in mind, it’s important to understand what cybersecurity is, why it is so important, and how you can protect your business from cyberthreats. What is Cybersecurity? Cybersecurity is the practice…

We’d like to tell that your desktops and laptops will self-combust because of the move from Windows 7 to Windows 10, forcing you to record the peril on your mobile device and then creating viral YouTube content. But, that’s just not going to happen. So, what WILL happen when you have desktops or laptops that…

The Cloud. We’ve all heard of it. Some of us use it for pictures and the occasional old document that we’re tired of seeing on our desktop. But did you know how beneficial it could be for your business? Not only is the Cloud useful for buying you back space with your hardware in backing…

And as you explore the process of managing the IT and technology inside your business, there are some important questions to ask.   Questions like:   What is my IT and technology (or lack thereof) really costing me? Should my IT be a full-time investment or should it be outsourced? What are the ramifications of…

In the previous post, we talked about why IT and Technology is important to your business and what it could potentially be costing you. Today, we have a different story about technology and losing data. A quick story…imagine walking into your office on a Saturday morning during tax season to find a staff member waiting…

Today, we’re going to talk about the three most important technologies of focus on in 2019. Cloud Technology Cloud computing is growing quickly. Gartner reports that cloud services spending is projected to grow 17% annually (upwards of $206 billion) in 2019, up from $175.8 billion in 2018. By 2022, 90% of organizations will be using…

What is Cybersecurity for Businesses? Cybersecurity for business is defined is the protection of internet-connected systems, including hardware, software and data, from cyberattacks. In a computing context, security comprises cybersecurity and physical security. Cybersecurity for businesses will continue to be one of the top investments business owners will make for the foreseeable future. Too often,…

What is the Dark Web? The Dark Web, which is not accessible through traditional search engines, is often associated with a place used for illegal criminal activity. It’s a place on the internet only accessed using certain web browsers. Cyber criminals tend to use the Dark Web as a place to buy and sell stolen…

How Much is Your Business Information Worth to an Identity Thief? Today, let’s discuss what your business information is worth on the Dark Web. The Dark Web is known for the illegal activities conducted there, and while not everything on the dark web is illegal, it’s most appealing factor is its anonymity. It’s often a…

Human error occurs when an individual performs a task or does something with an unintended outcome and can severely impact the security of your business.  It’s easy to point the finger at employee’s as being an organization’s weakest link when it comes to security technology awareness, but without appropriate training provided by you, how can…