While most of us know that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, fewer know that he’s specifically built his big, rambling castle in the Laughing Valley. It is there that he and his workforce, the elves, sprites, pixies, and fairies that help him make his toys all live, all working hard to give the children of the world their presents each year.
Of course, as magical as Santa and his team may be, it isn’t unheard of for them to need a little help every once in a while.
Did you know that tomorrow is World Password Day, 2023? As the result of a campaign to spread awareness of the importance of sufficiently secure passwords, it has become an annual reminder of how critical sufficient passwords are to proper cybersecurity…despite passwords not being sufficient protection on their own. In light of tomorrow’s observance, let’s take some time to review why passwords are important to get right, and what else you need to have in place.
The holiday season is getting busier and busier every year and with less and less time afforded to shopping and getting ready for the holiday, you may have overlooked that special someone on your holiday shopping list. This week, we give you three gadgets that would be really nice last minute gifts for that technology lover in your life
Each year we try to come up with a creative Christmas article that ties IT into one of the many holiday fables, but this year we thought we would just forgo the pageantry and talk a little bit about how important our clients are and what we do that can help take them where they want to go.
The holidays are some of the best times for technology lovers. Not only do manufacturers deliver the coolest tech for the busiest retail time of the year, there is a good chance that you may be gifted some of it. This week, we thought we would take a look at three popular gadgets that are flying off the shelves this holiday season.
The holidays are times for people to come together, even in these incredibly stressful times, so you’ll want to make sure that you are taking all the necessary precautions on both a personal level and a technological level. Here are some ways that you can keep yourself safe from a technology perspective this holiday season.
Halloween is a time when people of all ages dress up as something spooky that they’re really not. For the scariest of hackers, every day is like a reverse Halloween as they try to scam victims by pretending to be someone safe and trustworthy--a persona that they’re really not. This Halloween, don’t get tricked by the haunted hack!
The holidays are a time filled with good food, visits from dear friends and family, and exchanging gifts with those you care about. However, to keep the season bright and merry, you need to be a little cautious during your next gift exchange, as many gifts can present some unexpected risks to your recipient’s security. Be mindful if you see the following items on someone’s wish list.
Digital Assistants and Smart Home Hubs
These little devices have made a splash as a useful household appliance, answering a user’s questions and controlling their various media. However, these nifty gizmos are always listening--literally. These devices rely on microphones that automatically activate, meaning that they hear everything you have to say. Imagine what a cybercriminal could do with the information they extract from them.
What’s worse, many of these devices now also come equipped with cameras, allowing a cybercriminal to effectively invade your privacy from anywhere.
While it may be a neat idea to take control of one’s environment through technology, it provides cybercriminals with the opportunity to take advantage of these devices as they victimize you, along with your family or staff. These devices can be used to spy on you and collect enough information to piece together your daily routine--invaluable intel for the criminal class. It’s important to keep this in mind if you are purchasing these devices for young children. Although Google and Amazon want to be on top of their security, it’s important to consider the lack of security awareness kids might have.
Connected Toys
While many of these devices may seem like they appeal to an older demographic, there are plenty of toys and games for children that are getting smarter. This also increases their creepiness factor, as hackers could use some toys--such as a Toymail Talkie--to communicate directly with children. Other connected playthings could provide hackers with details about a child’s life that are far too intimate. Edwin the Duck, a connected bath toy, could be used to extrapolate how often a child is bathed and when they are put to bed.
Smart Appliances
Of course, adults can have toys of their own in the form of appliances, and they are more and more frequently being built with smart capabilities included. We’re talking about wearables like fitness trackers and Internet of Things devices. Basically anything that connects to the Internet that isn’t a traditional computer or laptop would fall into this category. What isn’t always included is any sufficient security to keep these appliances from being made a part of a botnet. Furthermore, like digital assistants, these devices can easily collect data based on the activity around them.
DNA Testing Kits
This one may come as a surprise to many, but those kits that you send away with a vial of your spit may be the next major cause of privacy issues. After all, the product itself requires the most unique piece of personally identifiable information you have: your DNA. This specific data can quickly become valuable, especially for research purposes.
The agreements that you have to sign in order to use these services often have terms that grant the company permission to do as they will with your genetic data--which includes sharing a digitized version of this data with those who are willing to pay. While the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 forbids the use of genetic data as a justification for discrimination-or firing someone because they have a predisposition to a condition-this kind of discrimination would be awfully hard to prove.
While the holidays should be a time of happiness, few things can put a damper on that happiness quicker than a security breach of your data. Mozilla has helpfully created a list of potentially risky products for consumers to reference as they do their holiday shopping.
So, what do you think? Is getting a good deal on an item for someone special worth risking a data breach? Let us know in the comments!
The holiday season has always been one of deep-seated traditions, some that draw from ancient customs, and some that are inspired by more contemporary trends. These traditions have been shaped, and often inspired by, the technology available in the day. Today, we’ll reflect on how the technologies we have now have impacted our celebratory traditions.
Holiday Cards
While the practice of sending holiday cards has always seen dips and rises, today’s technology has largely reduced the popularity of a physical card sent in the mail. Social media has made it much easier to keep in regular touch with friends and relatives and stay up-to-date on the events in their life. As a result, the importance of a holiday card or self-produced family newsletter has diminished. Additionally, the younger generations are less accustomed to physical correspondence, and so are not likely to change their preferred means of communication -- social media and other digital avenues -- during a single season.
Automation to Make Life Easier
There is no denying that this time of year is a stressful one, with so many considerations to make in preparation for celebrating the holiday. This stress is only added to that which comes from the tasks of everyday life, that unfortunately, doesn’t go away during these weeks.
However, the ability that we have today to automate many tasks through technology can help to simplify things. The menial, but necessary, tasks like grocery shopping and paying bills can be set to automatically take place, freeing up schedules to be filled with holiday concerns.
Shopping
Regardless of what you see as being “the reason for the season,” it is undeniable that retail and commercialism are a significant portion of the holiday. As such, it should come as no surprise that technology has made a considerable impact on this tradition as well. The rise of online retailers has forced brick-and-mortar stores to adapt and integrate their online presence with their physical location, as well as offer an improved shopping experience for those who do visit in person.
Furthermore, stores are embracing technologies to improve their own processes as well. Online price tracking allows a customer to increase their chances of finding the best available deal, while smart shelves and beacon technology allows them to find the item they’re looking for while it is in-stock. NFC technology, or near-field communication, provides these shoppers with a more convenient means of completing a transaction with their mobile device.
However, it is also undeniable that online shopping is booming. With so many retailers competing for their shoppers’ dollars, the holiday season is one of the biggest times of the year to find sales, bargains, and other incentives. Specialized browser plugins can help shoppers find the best deals (or discount codes) for the items they are searching for as well.
Of course, this is just a small sample of the effects that technology has had on the holiday season. What other changes can you think of?
From all of us at The Connection, Inc, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and great success in the new year.
The IT guy, Jacob left last month: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. He left without an exit interview, and he didn’t seem very pleased with the way the situation played out. You could never tell if Scrooge cared or not. His demands have never wavered. He expected perfection and when mistakes were made, they were approached as catastrophic affronts to the sustainability of the business, even if that wasn’t the reality.
Scrooge, not missing a beat, and never altering his demanding demeanor, laid the responsibilities that were, up to last month, Jacob’s, at the feet of poor old Bob; with, the expectation that Bob would be able to produce more. Bob was ever the diligent worker, and he never complained, regardless of how much unwanted attention and responsibility was forced onto him. As the holidays approached, Bob was looking forward to the respite from work, even if it was for a day. He was going to spend time with his family. You see, Bob’s daughter Grace fell ill and since Scrooge didn’t believe in offering benefits, the burden of keeping her well fell on Bob’s shoulders.
Just as he did the best that he could for Scrooge, he did the best that he could for his family. The problem was that Christmas is tomorrow and there has been no mention of him getting the day off. At about 1 p.m., after he had eaten the soup his wife had made (the same soup he had been eating for five consecutive working days), he went to Scrooge.
“Mr. Scrooge, I was wondering if I could have the day off tomorrow for Christmas?”
“No, Bob,” Scrooge answered immediately, “We just can’t afford it if you missed any time. It’s not fair or convenient to the business for you to miss any time.”
“But Mr. Scrooge,” Bob pleaded, “My wife is making a roast and I am hosting Christmas.” He went on to observe that it was only one day a year.
“Bah! Humbug.” Scrooge crowed, “It’s a poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth of December! You’d better be here in the morning, or you can find yourself another job.”
Bob, not wanting to put his job in jeopardy dejectedly answered, “Yes, sir.”
Bob went back to work and toward the end of the day, Scrooge emerged from his office, put on his coat and meandered over to Bob’s desk with a box. He stopped, placed the box on the desk and placed his hand upon the box.
“Bob,” Scrooge started, “I was thinking about your request for time off, and I wanted to tell you that since Jacob left, we just can’t have anyone missing any more time, so just tell your family to come after you get out of work.” Bob was upset, but said nothing.
“I’m headed to my club, I need you to stay tonight and install this new router.” Scrooge tapped the box, “I’m having trouble streaming in my office and want this installed and working before you leave for the day.”
Without saying goodbye, the old miser walked out the door and shuffled up the street toward his car. Bob felt crestfallen. He knew his brother and his family would be at the house when he got home, but not wanting to disobey Mr. Scrooge’s demands. He stayed until just after 8 p.m. making sure that the router was installed properly and that it did, indeed provide Mr. Scrooge’s office with the wireless signal he demanded.
After he finished with the router, he locked up the office and meandered down the street toward his car. Since Scrooge has kept both parking spots in front of the office for himself, Bob had to walk a half a mile to the parking garage. As he made his way there he went into the store to buy his family their Christmas roast. Knowing he wouldn’t be around to enjoy the company of his loved ones, he could at least get a beautiful roast.
He started pricing the meat and realized that he couldn’t afford a roast that was big enough for eight people. He checked his balance, and when the numbers came up on the screen he felt like he wanted to cry. He picked up a small roast and a large chicken, paid, and left for his home.
When Bob got home, his entire family was there. The sadness he was feeling melted away and the Christmas spirit that had escaped him returned with aplomb. His brother’s family had arrived a few hours before and so, after tucking their children in for Christmas, the adults sat around the Christmas tree telling stories and laughing, stuffing stockings, and putting out gifts. Bob didn’t know exactly how to explain that his boss wouldn’t give him the day off, but waited to reveal this sad truth for after the pleasantries of the evening were finished.
As he got ready for bed he shared the news with his wife.
“That Scrooge is a real piece of work,” his wife proclaimed.
“He’s a real piece of something,” Bob returned.
The couple talked about it a bit more, said goodnight, and went to sleep.
----
Scrooge, was sitting alone, as was his custom at a table in his club’s bar. His scowl was a solid deterrent to keep people away. He sipped his scotch and water and sat there watching the television that was mounted above the bar. The financial news was on. As the stock prices raced by and the attractive, yet muted 30-something gave the audience the recap of the money that had been made and lost during the day’s trading, his concentration was broken.
All of a sudden a man was standing, drinkless, in front of his table. “Hello Mr. Scrooge.”
“What?!” the ill-tempered codger snapped.
“Merry Christmas.” the man said joyfully.
“Bah!” Scrooge responded sharply.
“My name is George L Gremminger, and I’m with The Connection, Inc, and it’s come to my attention that your IT administrator, Jacob, is no longer with your company. I was wondering if you had a few minutes to talk about how my company can help you manage your...”
Scrooge responded, “Let me stop you before you go any further. I wish to be left alone. I don’t know how you know my business and I don’t care, I’ve got it handled.”
The conversation went on like that for a few minutes and George L Gremminger left his card on the table and wished Scrooge a merry Christmas. Scrooge predictably scoffed at the sentiment. In solitude he finished his drink, paid the bill with no tip, and left the club.
When he got home, he locked the door behind him and put on his dressing gown and nightcap. Just as he was getting comfortable in his bed, he heard a tapping, which he ignored. A minute later a banging came from the front room. He got up to investigate, grabbing his cane. Discovering nothing, he returned to his bedroom, only to find Jacob sitting at the small writing desk he had up against the far wall.
“What the hell are you doing here?!” Scrooge said aggressively.
“I’m not here, Mr. Scrooge. I’m not. I am a figment of your imagination.” Jacob stated matter-of-factly.
Scrooge charged at him and swinging his club to accost the intruder only served to break the lamp on the desk.
“How now!” said Scrooge, “What do you want with me?”
“Much” Jacob replied, “but first I have to see that you believe in me.”
“Believe in you?” Scrooge said, “Humbug, I tell you! Humbug!”
Just then Jacob let out a wail that got Scrooge’s attention. He then asked Scrooge to check his account balances, and after a little back-and-forth, Scrooge placated the spectre. The look on Scrooge’s face was of pure terror.
He began to plead, “Mercy, dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?”
“Your life is tied to your business, Scrooge, but your repulsive avarice has left you exposed; left it exposed.”
Jacob walked up to a terrified Scrooge. “Hear me! Tonight you will be haunted by three spirits.”
“Three spirits?” Scrooge asked, terrified.
“Yes, without their visits you can’t expect to understand the danger your belligerence has caused.”
Just then, the room was silent. Scrooge was horrified. He turned every light on in his house and turned on the television. After at least an hour of trepidation, he finally started to get tired, and even though his home was lit up like a jack-o-lantern on Halloween, he dozed off on his sofa.
----
“Wake Up!” the spirit shrieked.
Scrooge arose from his peace-less slumber quickly and alertly. He took a swipe with his cane, but was rebuked by the large ethereal man standing before him. The ghost was around six-foot-four, but had a golf shirt embroidered with Scrooge’s company’s logo on it tucked into a pair of khakis. Its hair was seemingly an ethereal mist that looked like there was smoke coming up from his glasses. His eyes were ominously white behind thick black glasses.
“Are you the Spirit, sir whose coming was foretold to me?” Scrooge asked.
“I am. I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.”
“Long past?” asked Scrooge who was trembling with fear.
“No, man, your past,” the spirit returned
The spectre put his hand on Scrooge’s reluctant shoulder and led him to the door of his home. Instead of opening the door, they traveled through it only to find on the other side a vision. The vision was of Jacob talking with Bob. They were talking about how Jacob had went to Scrooge, and asked him to consider getting on a firewall installed on the business network.
“You would have thought I asked him to go steady,” Jacob started, “He screamed at me and told me that if I don’t do my #$%^*& job and stop coming to him for money, I won’t have a job to come to.”
“I remember that. He was asking for too much money!” Scrooge said defiantly.
The spirit said nothing and put his hand on Scrooge’s shoulder again. They walked back through the wall they had just come through and this time it was a school. It seemed to be sometime in the 1960s. There was a little boy who was trying to open a padlock with paperclips.
As the lock sprung open, Scrooge growled, “Tommy Hulse!”
The boy opened the locker that was being protected by the padlock and took out a small bag.
“It was him!” Scrooge screeched. He got emotional and explained that he had brought his dad’s watch into school the day before Christmas and he had kept it in the bag. When he returned to the locker that day, it was open and his father’s watch was gone.
“I bet he skinned your hide,” the spirit said arrogantly.
Scrooge, despondent, looked at the spirit, “He died soon thereafter.”
“My time is running short, Scrooge. Let us go,” the spirit said, as he put his hand on his shoulder and walked through the wall.
He was back in the front room of his house. No one else was there. He called out to the spirit but nothing answered. Just then there was a banging coming from the bedroom. He went to investigate and there was a larger spectre standing in front of his bed.
“Scrooge!” the new ghost bellowed. Scrooge turned around and shut the door, only to turn around to see the giant ghastly man. This spirit was nearly seven-feet tall, his head was covered in a hood. He couldn’t make out any of his features, except two glowing eyes that seemed to puncture a hole through him.
“Scrooge! I am the Ghost of Christmas Present.”
“No! No more hauntings!” Scrooge plead. The ghost lifted his right arm and snapped his ethereal fingers. The snap was the loudest noise the miser had ever heard.
Scrooge, who had closed his eyes to avert his gaze from the newest spirit, opened them and found himself alone in a dark room.
‘Where am I?” Scrooge called out. No answer.
He noticed a light coming from an adjacent room. He made his way toward it. As he entered the doorway he could see the ghost standing over what looked to be Jacob, his former IT administrator. Jacob was typing at a computer.
‘Come, Scrooge,” the spirit said in his baritone tenor.
Scrooge walked over and looked on the screen. It was indeed Jacob, he was typing in a chat on his computer. He began to read:
When I bailed on old man Scrooge, I left a hole in the network. Tomorrow, I am going to go in and put this ransomware I just purchased. When he gets back from his Christmas break, he’ll have a surprise waiting for him.
“What is this? What is ransomware?” Scrooge asked the spirit timidly.
“I can’t tell you that, but I can tell you that it is not good for you or your company.” The ghost replied.
“Tell him to stop! Tell him to stop!” Scrooge began pleading.
“No one can hear you, Scrooge.” The spirit said as it walked out of the room.
Scrooge followed, but as soon as he got into the next room, there was no one there. He turned around and seemed surprised to be in his office. He walked through his office door to see the spirit standing over Bob’s desk. Bob was sitting at his desk working away, gently sighing every once in a while and checking his phone repeatedly. All of a sudden his desk phone rang.
“Hello.” Bob answered.
“Merry Christmas to you too...Mr. Scrooge needed me to work today, so I am...Well I have my brother and his family...She’s doing well...It’s okay...I’ll think about it...Have a merry Christmas.” Bob hung up the phone and went back to doing what he was doing.
“He’s a good worker.” Scrooge admitted to the spirit.
“You just couldn’t give him the day off for Christmas?” the spirit asked directly.
“I…I...We’re so short-staffed as it is…” Scrooge stammered. Bob’s cell phone rang.
“Hey...What?!...I’ll be right there,” Bob stood up with a panicked look on his face. He put his coat on and walked out the door without turning his computer off.
“Where is he going? Where is he going, spirit?” Scrooge plead.
The spirit again snapped his fingers and the pair were standing in the waiting room of a hospital. Bob was standing at the desk filling out paperwork. A doctor came up to him and started to talk. Bob’s face succumbed to the pain of the situation.
Scrooge started in, “What is it? What has happened? Tell me what has happened, please?”
The ghost looked at Scrooge with his searing red eyes and said, “His little girl is ill, Scrooge. I’m sure you knew that.”
“Yes...Yes, but what has happened to her?”
The spirit lifted his arm again. SNAP.
The pair were on the front lawn of Bob’s house. A car pulls into the driveway. Bob’s wife got out of the passenger seat. She had clearly been crying. Bob got out of the front seat and made his way around the car. His wife muttered something to him while he opened the back door of the car. Bob lifted his tired and weak daughter out of the car seat and followed his wife in the house.
“Not very Christmasy,” the tall spirit said, mocking a relieved Scrooge.
Before Scrooge could say anything else there was a huge bang and he was back in his home. Feeling tired and emotional, Scrooge sat down on the settee in his front room. He sat there in contemplation for a few minutes. He was worried about the virus that Jacob was going to unleash, he was worried about his business, and about Bob and his family. He realized that he hadn’t treated these people with a lot of respect. Just as he was coming to the conclusion that he had to do something about it the room filled with a blinding light.
Scrooge couldn’t see a thing. All of a sudden there was a high-pitched scream that startled him further. He started to plead:
“Please spirits, no more! I have learned the errors of my ways! No more, I beg you!”
A silhouette emerged in the light.
“Come,” it screeched.
Witless and afraid, Scrooge complied. The spirit was no more than a shadow that moved independently through the ether like bolts of lightning.
Scrooge followed the spirit into the light and emerged in front of a Best Buy. There were giant “Christmas Sale” banners hanging from above the revolving doors. Scrooge walked into the store where he was confronted by himself. He was wearing a Best Buy shirt and tan slacks, staring aimlessly across the vast expanse of the retail establishment.
From the side he spotted Bob walking up to his likeness.
“C’mon Scrooge, get to work,” Bob said as he walked by future Scrooge. He was older than he was by a few years and looked malnourished and feeble.
“No! This can’t be! I am an old man. I cannot work retail!”
As future Scrooge made his way toward the warehouse modern Scrooge followed. Two younger workers were standing near the loading dock as the Scrooges approached.
“What’s the matter, Grandpa? Don’t remember where you should be?” one of the young men said as the other laughed.
Scrooge looked around helplessly as the two younger men continued to snicker and jest.
Just then the light returned, covering everything. It brought Scrooge to a grave marked “Here Lies Scrooge”. Sensing his mortality Scrooge began to wail:
“Stop! Spirit, no! Oh no! Your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, shadow! I will live an altered life!”
The light returned and Scrooge woke up. He wasn’t on the settee or in the front room, but his bed. He leaped from the sheets.
“I don’t know what to do! I am light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy, I am as merry as a drunken man. Merry Christmas to everybody!” Scrooge cried laughing aloud. Without getting dressed he grabbed his coat and rushed out onto the street. Dawn was just breaking. He saw a young man walking on the sidewalk, he stopped him and asked, “What’s to-day?”
“Why today is Christmas, sir!” the young man replied.
“It’s Christmas day? Of course. Merry Christmas to you my fine fellow.” Scrooge said with enthusiasm.
“A merry Christmas to you, too, sir,” the man replied and walked on.
Scrooge, went back in his home and started making calls, the first call he made was to Bob, telling him to take the day and spend it with his family; and, that he was going to get a significant raise. The next call was to Jacob, who didn’t answer, but Scrooge left a voicemail that said he was sorry and would like to make it up to him. Finally, he called The Connection, Inc’s George L Gremminger to tell him that he would be happy to learn more about how he could keep his IT safe and make his business more efficient.
From all of us at The Connection, Inc, we’d like to wish you a very merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays!
We’re right in the thick of the holiday season, which means two things: one, there’s a lot of data being exchanged between businesses and consumers, and (on a related note) two: there’s ample opportunities for cybercrime, targeting business and consumer both. Whichever side of the coin you are on at any moment, you need to be aware of the risks, and how to mitigate them.
As a Consumer
Let’s face it, the Internet is a fantastic resource for the savvy shopper to use as a means of identifying where the best deals are, be it online or in-store. However, when browsing openly in such a way, you need to ensure that you are doing so as securely as possible.
There are, of course, the more basic steps: making sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date and activated, practicing good password hygiene and strength. In addition to these precautions, there are other measures you can take to help keep the holidays merry and bright, free of a cyberattack.
While you’re browsing, you want to make sure that you are as defended as possible, and that you are browsing intelligently as well. The bar where the website’s URL appears should have a locked padlock somewhere in it, indicating that the website is secure and any data you input (like credit card information, for example) is protected behind encryption. Furthermore, as convenient as a free Wi-Fi connection may seem, it isn’t going to be worth your data being infected as a result.
As a Business’ Representative
Of course, the focus on consumerism that permeates this time of year doesn’t for a moment mean that businesses get a pass when it comes to potential cyberattacks. The holiday season means nothing to attackers, and will not prevent them from leveraging everything they’ve got against your business’ interests. This effectively makes it a requirement for any business to have policies to counteract some of a cybercriminal’s efforts.
These policies should address a couple things, the first of which ensuring that all of your business’ defenses are updated and activated.
Whether it’s your antivirus, your remote access solution, or anything in between, your entire network needs to be maintained and kept up-to-date. This means that any patches that have been released for your solutions should also be applied in addition to regular updates as they are made available.
Your users also need to play a role in your cybersecurity. With the holidays so close, there is likely to be an increase in holiday-themed scams and phishing attempts. A few simple lessons in best practices will help to keep your users aware of these efforts and how to prevent them. Anyone with network access should also be required to authenticate their identity a few times through various means.
Of course, it can also be challenging for a business to keep all this up while simultaneously attending to their regular operations. That’s why we do what we do at The Connection, Inc. Give us a call at (732) 291-5938, and have a happy and healthy holiday this year.
A full week into the new year, have you resolved to make any improvements to your business? In light of all the resolutions that may (or may not) have been broken by now, we decided to share a few resolutions you could put into place to improve your business and its processes.
I know, I know… it isn’t as though you don’t already have goals for your business to reach, whatever they may be. However, not all goals are set equally - there are ways that you can improve your likelihood of reaching them. One way is to follow the S.M.A.R.T. methodology, which means that all of your goals are made to be:
To make sense of this, let’s create a S.M.A.R.T. goal here. To do so, we’ll assume you want to see more revenue come in. To make this more specific, let’s specify where that revenue should come from - perhaps recurring services. To make sure your progress is measurable, you want to set a few concrete values, as these are easier to measure and track. For our case, let’s say that you want to increase the number of people signed on to your recurring services by a total of 15 percent within the next month.
Now, ask yourself, is this goal an attainable one, under typical circumstances? While there is nothing wrong with being expeditious, you need to make sure that you aren’t sending yourself on a fool’s errand at the same time. So, let’s pretend that, in this scenario, you see a natural sign-on/conversion rate of about three percent for these services each month, and can increase that to five or six percent if you push them. That means that a goal of 15 percent is pretty much doomed for failure. As a result, we should adjust this goal to signing on 15 percent more in the next three months.
Furthermore, your goal needs to be relevant to your business’ ongoing success. Does the service you are pushing increase your profits, or does it make your other tasks simpler to accomplish? You should focus, first and foremost, on goals that benefit the business and/or its processes. Finally, and hearkening back to the selection of three months over one month, you need all of your initiatives to have a timely end. Otherwise, you won’t be as motivated to strive for success - you’ll probably get there someday, after all - and really, what kind of goal is that?
Not all business growth can necessarily be measured in mathematical terms. However, this other growth can have an impact on the benchmarks that you might first think to measure - such as generated revenue, employee retention, or productivity - as well as provide clearly visible benefits to your business. Basically, by making the workplace a place where people are happy to work, you can make progress toward these goals as a natural side effect,
To accomplish this, have your employees chime in and share what might make them feel more energized and enthused to come to work - and then try to act on it. By working to motivate everyone, you help lift up the culture of the entire workplace - as well as create an environment that attracts many prospects to join your team.
While many business owners might dream of becoming the next huge, global business, there are certain disadvantages to becoming one. For instance, when managing a colossal business like that - despite what many advertisements may say - the tendency is to make everything as impersonal as possible, mostly out of practical necessity. The thing is, many clients are looking for a personalized experience, the relationship that a smaller provider can provide. Building relationships like these can be the difference between you getting their business, and the conglomerates getting it.
Are there any resolutions that you’ve made for your business this year? Share them in the comments, and don’t forget that we’re here to help with any of your technology needs to give you the best chance of accomplishing them! For more information, give us a call at (732) 291-5938.
In terms of identity theft, data loss and good ol’ fashioned pickpocketing, the holiday season is one of the riskiest times to travel. When it comes to protecting your personal information, thieves and cybercriminals are counting on you to be distracted and make careless mistakes. In 2016, the number of fraud attempts went up by 31% during the holiday season. In addition, credit cards, mobile devices, and open Wi-Fi are common targets throughout the holidays.
Here are a few tips that can help keep you and your family safe from hackers and thieves.
Approximately 100 million Americans are going to be traveling this holiday season - meaning that there is no shortage of potential victims. By following these tips, you are taking a proactive approach to keeping your identity and finances safe.
With the long-awaited release of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens this December, today’s Star Wars Day holiday may be the biggest yet (May the 4th be with you). As a technology-loving IT company, we’re happy to honor our favorite science fiction franchise by taking a fun look at its futuristic space technology.
Even if you like Internet Explorer, you may have noticed that it can be a bit buggy at times. Perhaps if Microsoft had more information about the causes of its software issues, they could develop a better product. This is the purpose of software error reports, which largely go unsent and unread; or at least, that’s what Microsoft thought.
2015 isn’t the year to go without backups. If there’s anything 2014 showed the world, it’s that businesses can fall victim to data breaches when they least expect it. You want to be prepared in the event of a data breach or data loss, and the easiest way to do that is by taking advantage of an external backup. Unfortunately, even an essential solution like data backup can be forgotten amidst the everyday operations of the average business owner.
The holidays are again upon us and if you are looking for the perfect gift for your favorite business professional, you don’t have to look too far. There are more consumer electronics available today than ever before, and most of them have some sort of novelty attached to them. We have made a list of four gifts that are not only cool, they serve a practical purpose and will probably avoid being re-gifted or recycled.
Black Friday is widely regarded as the most competitive day for American retailers, and for consumers standing in line to take advantage of rock-bottom prices, the general consensus is that all of this competition is great for their wallets. In the same way, your business can benefit from a healthy dose of friendly competition.
Everyone has heard horror stories about the spirits of the dead lingering in this world. Every culture on this planet has different beliefs about the nature of these spectral beings. Not much is known about these beings, but people still believe without a doubt that they exist. In regards to technology, ghosts do exist, in the form of ghost servers.
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