Author: rory-admin

  • Is the cloud still your best option or would an on-premises server be the smarter way to go? 5 facts to consider about both

    Is the cloud still your best option or would an on-premises server be the smarter way to go? 5 facts to consider about both

    Originally touted as the wave of the future “the cloud”, which is nebulous phrasing that basically means putting your data anywhere besides your direct location, is often seen as the solution for corralling data into one central online location that’s managed by someone else (IE cloud providers).

    However, rising costs of data storage and uncertainty surrounding data security and availability in the wake of ever-increasing data breach threats has meant more businesses are seriously considering their options when it comes to the best strategy for data storage in their business. Where once more and more businesses were on board with an all-cloud solution, now many are turning away from the cloud for on-premises solutions or even a hybrid solution.

    First, five facts to consider in favor of an all-cloud solution:

    1. Scalability: Cloud solutions provide on-demand scalability, allowing businesses to easily increase or decrease resources such as storage, processing power, and bandwidth, based on changing needs without having to invest in physical infrastructure.
    2. Cost Efficiency: Moving to the cloud can reduce capital expenses (CapEx) for hardware and maintenance. Instead, businesses can move to an operating expense (OpEx) model, where they only pay for the resources they use, thus reducing waste and optimizing budgets.
    3. Accessibility and Flexibility: Cloud platforms allow employees to access data and applications from anywhere with an internet connection. This supports remote work, global collaboration, and increases flexibility for businesses.
    4. Automatic Updates and Maintenance: Cloud service providers manage routine maintenance, security patches, and software updates, freeing up internal IT teams to focus on more strategic tasks, and ensuring systems are up to date with the latest technologies.
    5. Disaster Recovery and Backup: Cloud solutions offer robust disaster recovery options, ensuring data redundancy and availability. Cloud providers often have geographically distributed data centers, reducing the risk of data loss due to localized incidents and enhancing business continuity.

    On the other hand, here are five facts in favor of an on-premises solution:

    1. Greater Control and Customization: With on-premises servers, organizations have full control over their hardware, software, and network configurations. This allows for highly customized setups that can be tailored to meet specific business or security needs.
    2. Data Security and Privacy: On-premises storage allows businesses to maintain direct oversight of their data, which can be crucial for industries that require strict data security and regulatory compliance (e.g., healthcare or finance). Sensitive data stays within the company’s infrastructure, reducing third-party access risks.
    3. No Dependence on Internet Connectivity: Unlike cloud-based solutions that require constant internet access, on-premises servers allow organizations to access and manage their data even if there are internet outages or network interruptions, ensuring business continuity.
    4. Predictable Costs: While the upfront costs of on-premises servers can be higher, they are typically one-time capital expenditures. Over time, businesses have greater control over their long-term budget for hardware upgrades and maintenance without the recurring subscription fees that cloud services often require.
    5. Legacy Systems Integration: Many businesses have legacy applications or systems that are better suited for, or only compatible with, on-premises infrastructure. Keeping data and applications on-site ensures better performance and integration with existing, sometimes older, internal systems.

    There are factors to consider when it comes to choosing either cloud or on-premises for your business storage solution, but what about a mix of both? Maintaining an on-premises storage solution combined with a cloud storage solution as a backup gives you both the redundancy you need with the flexibility of cloud storage and alongside the control of an on-premises solution in a hybrid solution completely customized for your needs.

    In today’s world, data storage can be customized to your business’s specific needs and here at Valley Techlogic we are experts in developing backup solutions that work for you (through our program TechVault). Whether you’re looking to protect your current data, migrate your data to the cloud or to an on-premises solution, or even if you’ve reached this article while going through a data loss event – Valley Techlogic can help. Reach out for a consultation today.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

  • Back to school? 9 cyber safety tips for school devices and more

    Back to school? 9 cyber safety tips for school devices and more

    August and September are big back to school months in the United States and while you’re prepping your children’s backpack for their return with pencils and markers it’s also worth taking the time to go over safety tips for utilizing the internet.

    Schools have become more and more steeped in their usage of technology rather than pen and paper course work, however they may not have the bandwidth to monitor how those devices are used 100% of the time. School IT will do the best they can to bridge the gap but it’s still up to us as parents to make sure our children have the tools they need to safely navigate our interconnected world.

    Whether your schools have handed down iPads, Chromebooks or something else these 9 tips are worth noting as your children get ready for their first day of school:

    1. Does the device have content filtering? While most schools will implement strong content filtering as part of their device roll out plan to prevent students from viewing inappropriate content, it’s still worth reviewing on your own end and reporting if there are any flaws to it with your school’s administration.
    2. Does your child take their mobile phone to school? If your children have a mobile device they bring to school, we recommend taking the same measures you would with your own device and ensuring the lockscreen is enabled. A child is more likely to lose a device and the same rules apply with them as adults in protecting personal data that could be exposed via an unsecured phone.
    3. Also be wary of theft. Theft happens in schools and an unattended phone or laptop could make an appealing target, make sure they know their devices should be with them or in a secure location at all times.
    4. Strong passwords matter for kids too. It’s also not too early to get them started with a good password manager (and useful for you as a parent in maintaining access to your online children’s accounts). Here are our top 3 password manager recommendations.
    5. So do updates. Again, as with your own devices, you should be making sure their devices are up to date on current software or firmware updates. Kids will not be as thorough in investigating something they’re interested in before downloading it (especially with online games). Automatic updates are a must for children’s devices.
    6. Cyber bullying is another consideration. The Global Cybersecurity Forum has found that 72% of children worldwide have been exposed to one type of online cyber threat or bullying.
    7. Children should be aware of online scammers too. If your child is old enough to have access to an email account (to setup a mobile phone you often have to setup an email too) or even if they just have access to text messaging, it’s a good thing to go over the fact that online scams exist and what to look out for.
    8. Kids need backups too. Especially for middle and high school age students, saving their work may not be a given and losing it could be devastating (or at least will feel that way). If multi-page reports are a factor in your child’s life it’s worth making sure they’re writing them on software that will automatically save the draft, such as Microsoft’s Word or Google Docs. Both of these options save your progress as you write automatically.
    9. Teach your children what to share (and what not to share) online. Social media can be a tricky thing to navigate even for adults but for children there are additional safety concerns. If your teen has reached the age that they’re asking to or have already created a social media account, it’s worth reviewing what information they’ve made available on it and checking it continuously. We recommend making sure your teen’s online accounts are made private and they know not to share things like their location or other PII (Personally Identifiable Information) on the web.

    For parents and educators alike, we recommend following the SMART rules when it comes to online safety for your children and students. See and save the flyer below.

    Stay SMART Flyer VTL 2024

    Valley Techlogic is a technology service provider located in California and we have experience working with a range of businesses (including educational institutions) in support of their technology goals. Learn more with a consultation today.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

  • The 7 most common network issues and how to fix them

    The 7 most common network issues and how to fix them

    “The internet is down” is a phrase no one enjoys hearing. Beyond the disruption to your day, troubleshooting network issues is also a notoriously frustrating experience. Questions like why is it down, is it us or our service provider, when will it come back up? are common place in this universally shared experience. These questions don’t always have easy answers, but we have 7 easy solutions you can try if your internet is out (even if you’re currently looking at this list from your cell phone).

    1. The tried and true, have you tried turning it off and on? When in doubt, a quick router reset is sometimes all it takes to get your network back online. If you’re curious why this works, it’s often because like with a computer resetting the device clears its memory which allows it to run more efficiently.

      Hello It Have You Tried GIFfrom Hello It GIFs

    2. Do a quick inspection. Is everything plugged in? Even if it looks like everything is plugged in snuggly and securely, we still suggest double-checking cables etc. for loose connections or whether a cable is showing signs of failure (fraying, loose or damaged connectors, things of that nature).
    3. Run a network test. We promise this tip is actually easy even if it sounds complicated. First, open a Command Prompt by typing CMD in the search bar of your device, from there simply cut and paste this command ping -n 100 1.1.1.1 (1.1.1.1 is a public DNS service provided by CloudFlare) and hit enter. Your device will start giving you the ping results, this can also help you if your internet is online but slow as it will tell you if your pings take a long time to reach the service.
    4. Try this command. Before you close that command prompt, we also suggest trying the simple command ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew . What this will do is refresh your computer’s IP address and it may solve the problem if only one device in your office is affected.
    5. See if you’re due for an update. We’ve touched on this before, but small devices like routers and Wi-Fi connectors often fly under the radar when it comes to receiving updates. A firmware update may be all it takes to get you back online, and your device will also be more secure from being updated as an added benefit.
    6. Check if it’s you or your provider. Tried the above steps and still no dice? At this point we recommend reaching out to your internet provider to see if there’s a known issue in your area (this information may also be available online). You can also see if they can reset things on their end to possibly resolve the issue for you if there Isn’t a more widespread outage going on.
    7. Call for backup. If you’ve tried the above steps and your internet is still out, it’s time to reach out to your IT support team for escalating and more complex troubleshooting.

    Don’t currently have an IT support team for your California business? Valley Techlogic can help, networking support and troubleshooting is included in all of our service plans. We have personally assisted customers with persistent network outage situations, developing complex and creative internet connectivity solutions for more remote locations and more.

    Don’t let a bad connection get between you and your ability to run your business, reach out today for a consultation.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

  • Code named “Strawberry”, OpenAI’s latest update aims to boost reasoning capacity in their AI model

    Code named “Strawberry”, OpenAI’s latest update aims to boost reasoning capacity in their AI model

    Initially labeled Q* for Q Star, Project Strawberry is set to become ChatGPT5 and OpenAI is prepared to launch this update any day now at the time of writing.

    AI competition continues to stiffen up, but many would argue OpenAI has a commanding lead in the AI space with it’s a comparatively more mature model that many believe is more accurate than competitors such as Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s CoPilot.

    However, as with most AI tools on the market, errors and just general wonkiness are part of the experience and OpenAI and other AI tool providers hope to continue to improve in that arena, providing more accurate results to users without errors and sometimes comical mistakes or “problems” as in the inaccurate word scramble below.

    Hint, no actual words can be spelled with all the letters given.

    OpenAI’s claims Project Strawberry will have “human-like” reasoning skills and answer questions that have stumped the algorithm so far, especially complex math and programming problems.

    This update is also leading up to the larger project for OpenAI, codenamed “Orion” this future tool will be an entirely new AI model and it’s going to be trained entirely via ChatGPT5/Project Strawberry. The hope with using AI to train AI rather than training it via data found online is that we will see a reduction in “AI hallucinations” (or incorrect predictions) and also speed up the rate at which AI can be improved without having to feed it large amounts of online data.

    This would also help OpenAI and other AI competitors avoid the murkier topic of privacy concerns when it comes to where AI is getting it’s data from.

    If you’re considering investing time in AI solutions for your business, we have 4 considerations for you to mull over first (and the first does relate to the data security topic we just mentioned):

    1. Data Security: For most of the AI tools on the market, it’s a known fact that any data you feed into it will also feed into the models they use. We would suggest if you’re considering implementing AI solutions in your business you do so with this factor in mind. Even if a tool claims your data will be secure and not accessible to other users (we’re looking at you CoPilot) AI is still realistically in its infancy. We suggest using an abundance of caution when it comes to data that is proprietary to your business.
    2. Cost (especially Time Cost): AI when used correctly can save your business time and money but using it correctly can be a high barrier to entry. For example, if copy writing is a core facet of your business AI is an excellent tool for sourcing ideas that your team can then spin off into their own creations. If your business is word-of-mouth based cabinetry sales, AI may not be very useful to you at this point in time.
    3. User Experience: Consider the human experience, especially for your customers, when implementing AI solutions. AI chatbots exist but should they replace a real person answering questions on your business’s behalf? Or instead does it make sense to utilize it half way (IE the chatbot answers common questions) with a human representative ready to take over if the questions get more complicated.
    4. AI is not magic: AI will not replace human ingenuity, as outlined above it’s not a perfect solution by any means at this point in time and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. AI should be used to build upon existing structures in your business (like adding more capacity to your marketing capabilities for example) not with the expectation it’s going to replace those structures entirely.

    Considering implementing AI solutions in your business or hoping to hone in on advancements in technology to your advantage? Valley Techlogic continues to stay at the forefront of new innovations in tech, and we utilize our expertise on behalf of our customers. Reach out today for a consultation.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

  • The day the world stopped (for Windows users anyways)

    The day the world stopped (for Windows users anyways)

    Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past week, you’re probably well aware of the worldwide outage that occurred last Friday effecting millions of Windows users and causing disruptions for airlines, healthcare facilities, banks and more.

    CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity technology company that provides endpoint protection and cyberattack response services to numerous Fortune 500 companies was behind the outage which was linked to a software glitch.

    The update that was pushed out Friday was supposed to just enable sensors on Windows devices to detect new potential threats, but instead knocked systems offline around the world. CrowdStrike utilizes an update mechanism they call “Rapid Response Content” which is supposed to react to threats in real time and push updates out to respond to those threats. As we know, time is of the essence with cybersecurity especially with Zero Day attacks.

    Instead of addressing threats though, a defect in the update caused an outage that has cost airlines in particular $860 million in losses during the course of the outage. Airlines even resorted to writing flight times on whiteboard in airports for travelers who had no access to flight information during the outage. Affected devices all displayed the infamous blue screen of death.

    Photo courtesy of Reddit user u/New_Fault_1002.

    It’s also being reported that cyber insurers are expected to only cover 10 to 20 percent of the costs associated with this outage, leaving much of the financial burden on companies still trying to recover from the disruption the outage caused to their business.

    The bittersweet news behind this outage is that companies with cloud facing options for their data recovered much more easily than businesses dependent on physical devices. For the example the healthcare sector, which despite the overwhelming coverage airports have received was the hardest hit with $1.94 billion in losses anticipated so far. Companies that could access unaffected devices to reach the data they had stored in the cloud were able to resume business as usual much quicker than those dependent on hard copy data found only on their Windows devices.

    CrowdStrike has pledged to keep an outage created by an update glitch from happening again by taking a more staggered approach to their updates by not having every user receive the same update all at once and also by having a more thorough process to vet updates before they go live.

    However, the fate of the company and its ability to rebound after such a critical failure is unknown at this point and they’re not winning any favors with a measly $10 gift card being offered as a “sorry” for the outage.

    For us at Valley Techlogic, the outcome of relying on having all of your “data eggs” in one basket is unsurprising. We have long been proponents of taking a layered approach to backups, two is good and three is better. Our backup service, TechVault, is included with all our service plans. If you would like to learn more, reach out today for a consultation.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

  • 4 Ways to Secure Your IoT (Internet of Things) Devices

    4 Ways to Secure Your IoT (Internet of Things) Devices

    Love it or hate it, internet connectivity in everyday devices is here to stay. Whether you’re a staunch believer that “smart” devices are unnecessary or if you are just waiting for the day when the 1999 Disney movie “Smart House” becomes a reality (minus the over reactive AI of course) – chances are you have some devices in your home or office that are connected to the internet just like your laptop or desktop computer is and that means they need to be managed in almost the same way from a cyber threat perspective.

    You might be thinking, there’s no way my smart fridge has the same capacity as my laptop for being a cyber security threat vector, it’s not powerful enough? Unfortunately, you would be wrong in that assertion. Even if you turn off the “smart” functionality in your devices they’re still internet facing and should be secured or maintained.

    Here are our 4 tips for securing your IoT (Internet of Things) Devices:

    1. Create Network Segmentation: This sounds complicated, but all this just means creating groups within your router for your various devices (most routers have a guide for doing this).
    2. Update Firmware: IoTs devices also need regular updates (and as with computers a lot of these updates are security related). If you connect to the device through your phone updates can usually be managed in their app.
    3. Utilize MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication): While the IoT device itself may not have the option of MFA, your phone or computer that you use to interact with it will for many of the sites you use. This will make it a little safer to continue using those devices to interact with the IoT device.
    4. Consider Whether You Need the Internet Connectivity: Many ordinary devices come with internet connected features these days, but if you want your fridge to be a fridge and not a smart fridge we recommend just disabling them.

    Even in offices, smart devices are becoming a more common place in the form of lighting, thermostats and sensors. Securing these devices in an office setting is even more important and you may need expert help in making sure all IoTs devices are accounted for and secured properly.

    Valley Techlogic can assist in your networking and cybersecurity goals, learn more with a consultation today.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

  • When is the best time to buy a new laptop? Plus our top laptop picks by category for 2024

    When is the best time to buy a new laptop? Plus our top laptop picks by category for 2024

    With Amazon’s Prime Day starting next Tuesday we know a lot of people will be interested in taking advantage of any laptop sales the e-commerce giant will have available to refresh an older device or bump up to better hardware, but is this the best time to buy a new laptop?

    There are actually several times throughout the year we see laptop (and devices in general) sales spike, including:

    1. Back-to-School Season (July to September): Retailers often offer discounts to attract students and parents preparing for the school year.
    2. Holiday Sales (November to December): Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving) offer significant discounts. Christmas and New Year sales can also be a good time to find deals.
    3. New Model Releases: New laptop models are usually released in the spring (April to June) and fall (September to November). Purchasing a laptop just before or right after new models are released can lead to discounts on older models.
    4. End of Financial Quarters: Retailers and manufacturers may offer discounts at the end of March, June, September, and December to meet sales targets.
    5. Annual Tech Events: Pay attention to major tech events like CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in January. After such events, you might see price drops on older models.

    For Windows devices in particular, we often see a lot of new releases coming around in October when Windows big feature updates for the year typically drops (and if you’re still on Windows 10 which reaches end of life October of next year, this is a great time to upgrade to a Windows 11 or Windows 11 ready device).

    For our personal laptop recommendations, we’re both a Lenovo and Dell partner and recommend the following from each brand, first from Lenovo:

    1. Best 2-in-1: The Lenovo Yoga 7 functions in both laptop and tablet mode and is a great option for creative roles with it’s built in stylus and faster processor.
    2. Best Daily Driver: The Lenovo ThinkPad is an all-around great day to day model with long battery life and rugged components (especially if you spend a little more for the T series models).
    3. Best Workhorse: The Lenovo X1 Carbon is designed with business use in mind and the hardware can be upgraded for even the most demanding load with options for more RAM, faster processors and high powered video cards that will make this laptop work as hard as you do.

    If Dell is your favored brand we have a couple of recommendations for them as well:

    1. Best 2-in-1: In the 2-in-1 category from Dell we have the Dell Latitude, Dell even one ups Lenovo with the ability to fully go tablet mode and remove the keyboard entirely while keeping the same impressive performance capabilities.
    2. Best Workstation: The Dell Precision is Dell’s daily work model, with the focus spent here on providing just enough power to complete all your daily tasks and in whatever form factor you prefer (this model ranges from a travel sized 14 inches up to 17 inches for better viewing capabilities).

    While these are just some of our recommendations in a nutshell, Valley Techlogic clients receive the benefits of our procurement services which include helping them select a device that’s perfect for them and their workflow down to the smallest detail. If you would like to know how Valley Techlogic can assist you with making hardware choices for your business and more, schedule a consultation with us today.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

  • Are IT audits part of your technology business planning? 5 tips for completing a technology audit on your business

    Are IT audits part of your technology business planning? 5 tips for completing a technology audit on your business

    If technology audits aren’t a regular part of your business planning or you’re not sure where to begin, today’s article will include advice on both the process of conducting a technology audit and what your technology audit report should include when you’re done.

    Before we touch on those topics though we should cover what a technology audit is in a nutshell and why they’re important. A technology audit is a comprehensive evaluation of your IT infrastructure and systems. During the audit process you can document your equipment, discover shortcomings in your cybersecurity planning, review your disaster recovery processes, and evaluate what steps you should take to improve your technology landscape as a whole.

    So where do you begin with the process of conducting a technology audit for your business?

    1. Define the Scope and Objectives: Before you can begin the process of the audit you need to outline what items will be evaluated. We suggest the following as a baseline but depending on your business sector and compliance requirements more items may need to be added. 1. Device Inventory (Computers, Laptops, Servers Etc. > 2. Software Licensing > 3. Security Measures > 4. Network Equipment & Subscriptions > 5. Data & Backup Procedures is a good baseline to start with when it comes to categorizing your report.
    2. Assemble the Team: Next you will have to determine who is the best team for completing this audit. We find that customers prefer to take a step back from the IT process and “leave it to the experts” but in this case you know your business best and it’s a good idea to work in tandem with your existing IT. You can have them assemble the report and leave the door open to any questions they have as the process progresses.
    3. Conducting the Audit: We suggest beginning the audit with a full inventory of your technology hardware, this allows you to take note of devices that are working as expected, devices that could use a replacement and even devices that are still powered on in your office but no longer being used (and could potentially be a threat vector if they’re also no longer being maintained).
    4. Continuing the Audit: Next your technicians can segue into evaluating your software licensing (also a great time to eliminate unnecessary tech spending on licenses that are no longer used), as well as your backups and data management.
    5. The Final Piece: Finally, they can evaluate your cyber security processes and disaster recovery planning, and if you don’t have a disaster recovery plan in place then creating one as part of your audit process is a good idea.

    At the end you should have a report that fully encompasses the full scope of the technology your business uses. We recommend conducting comprehensive audits like these annually for the best results and you will be able to refer to previous years’ audits to better plan for your technology spending year over year.

    If the thought of doing this on your own is overwhelming, we don’t blame you. Conducting a comprehensive technology audit is best left to the pros and if you’re a Central Valley business owner, Valley Techlogic can provide this service for you alongside our other preventative technology maintenance at no additional cost. Learn more today.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

  • Ransomware attack brings down auto dealers across the country, bringing car sales to a halt

    Ransomware attack brings down auto dealers across the country, bringing car sales to a halt

    Software creator CDK Global experienced a ransomware attack last week that left auto dealerships that use the software they distribute (Dealer Management System or DMS) unable to process car sales as they normally do.

    The DMS software is used by over 15,000 dealerships nationwide and not only helps car dealerships quickly process applications but also provides dealers with the ability to manage customer relationships and service solutions such as maintenance contracts, car rebates and even tracks dealer inventory.

    Many dealerships have begun to process car sales manually, but the software also managed appointment requests, for both buying and car maintenance grinding those services to a halt as well. The service has been down since last Wednesday and CDK Global doesn’t expect the service will be back up until June 30th although they say some services are starting to be brought back online as of writing.

    Summer time is typically a popular car buying season especially with Fourth of July sales being a staple of the industry, it’s unknown what effect this attack will have on overall sales for this quarter.

    The group behind the outage, BlackSuit, is part of a growing trend of hacks specifically targeting software suppliers and demanding lucrative ransoms to get systems back online. CDK hasn’t thus far paid the ransom and we have no confirmation of what that figure is.

    Blacksuit is known for both stealing sensitive data and locking up systems, then demanding a ransom to restore both. They also provider information to smaller hacking groups so they can carry out their own attacks including resources to intimidate victims into paying. It’s estimated they’ve carried out successful attacks on 95 organizations globally although this figure only includes companies who reported the attack. The figure is likely much higher.

    In one post on Reddit a user describes a client who was hacked by an affiliate of the group and paid $4000 to recover their data, the reach of not only Blacksuit themselves but by bad actors who utilize their services to conduct their own attacks would be impossible to determine but should make even small business owners wary as we continue to see hackers organize and expand their reach as a group rather than as individuals.

    CDK meanwhile has continually moved the goal post on when a resolution will occur, automotive dealerships were originally told systems would be up by June 21st and now June 30th but they’ve already stated even by that date systems may not be back up for everyone affected.

    “We are still doing the workarounds, using a paper processing system. The problem is we can’t load this data back into the system,” Geoffrey Pohanka, chairman of Pohanka Automotive Group located in Maryland told CBS. “We can account for the work we did in our general ledger from a financial statement standpoint, but it’s very hard to pop all this data back into the system so you can have access to it later.”

    Attackers continue to grow more savvy and the effects of an attack like this won’t only incur damages such as downtime or a loss of data or even the financial burden of paying a ransom, they can affect customer perception of your business and cause customers to lose faith in your ability to service them.

    At Valley Techlogic, cybersecurity is a keystone offering of our technology support plan. We follow cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST, CIS, HIPAA and CMMC to ensure we’re following nationally recognized standards for cybersecurity protections.  If you would like to ensure an attack like this will never happen to your business, or if you’ve already experienced a hack and are looking towards the path to recovery, Valley Techlogic can support your business today.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.

  • Our top 10 best tricks for using Microsoft Outlook every user should know

    Our top 10 best tricks for using Microsoft Outlook every user should know

    Microsoft Outlook is a feature found in their Office line of software and can be used standalone or as part of your overall Microsoft 365 subscription package. It can be used as a mobile app, a desktop app or even within your browser and has many competitive features that make managing your business’s email easier such as tie ins to your Microsoft calendar automatically (including the ability to schedule Teams meetings right from Outlook) and automatic access to OneDrive to make sending files you’re actively working on more convenient.

    Beyond those core features though we have our top 10 tips and tricks you may not be aware of for making using Microsoft Outlook even easier to use.

    1. Organize Your Inbox with Folders and Categories: You probably knew you could create folders, but did you know you can also use color-coded categories to keep your inbox organized? Color coding makes it easier to sort through emails in your inbox at a glance.
    2. Set Up Email Signatures: Create a professional email signature with your contact information and company logo. There are even tools that integrate with Outlook to create a professional looking signature that will always be present on your outgoing emails. At Valley Techlogic we use (and recommend) Exclaimer.
    3. Use Email Templates: Did you know you can create email templates in Outlook? If you have an email message you send frequently to clients or prospects you can create a template to easily send it on the fly, just get the email ready one more time than navigate to File > Save As and in the Save as type list you’ll see the option for “Outlook Template”. Simply name the template and then it will always be right at your fingertips for future use.
    4. Integrate with Other Apps: It’s probably a given but we highly recommend connecting Outlook with other Microsoft Office apps (like OneNote, Teams, and SharePoint) for seamless productivity.
    5. Sync Across Devices: You should also make sure your Outlook is synced across all your devices for easy access to your emails and calendar on the go.
    6. Use Mail Merge for Bulk Emails: Use the Mail Merge feature to send personalized bulk emails to multiple recipients, to start navigating to Mailings> Start Mail Merge > E-mail Messages and select the template you want to use. From there you can set up your mailing list (if you don’t have one saved you can create one as you set up your mail merge). Mail merge is an excellent way to send marketing and promotion emails or updates to your customers without needing to send dozens of individual emails and without the use of a CRM (Customer Relationship Management tool).
    7. Set Out of Office Replies: Going on vacation? Configure automatic replies when you are out of the office. Just navigate to File > Automatic Replies to set one up for your desired dates.
    8. Use the Calendar Efficiently: You probably know you can schedule meetings and set reminders with your Outlook calendar, but did you know you can also share your calendar with colleagues? Just right click on your calendar and select “Share Calendar” and choose the person you’d like to share it with, it’s as easy as that.
    9. Utilize Quick Steps: Set up Quick Steps to automate repetitive tasks, like moving emails to a folder or creating a new meeting request. You can find it by selecting Home in the top tool bar and it will be towards the right end of the bar labeled Quick Steps. From there you can customize the steps you would like Outlook to complete automatically on your behalf.
    10. Archive Old Emails: Use the Archive feature to keep your inbox clutter-free without deleting important emails. You just select the emails you’d like to Archive and right click to send them to the Archive folder, thereby cleaning up your inbox but keeping them available just in case.

    These aren’t our only Microsoft Outlook tips, we also wanted to share our top 5 Outlook shortcuts in the graphic below.

    Do you need assistance in getting the most out of Microsoft Outlook or your Microsoft 365 subscriptions? Valley Techlogic is a certified Microsoft partner and we’re experts in all things Microsoft and Windows related. Learn more with a free consultation today.

    Looking for more to read? We suggest these other articles from our site.

    This article was powered by Valley Techlogic, leading provider of trouble free IT services for businesses in California including Merced, Fresno, Stockton & More. You can find more information at https://www.valleytechlogic.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/valleytechlogic/ . Follow us on Twitter at https://x.com/valleytechlogic and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valley-techlogic-inc/.