by Richard Jones | Sep 2, 2024 | Business, Business Continuity, Cybersecurity, IT Management, Microsoft
If you’re like most people, you probably find system updates a hassle. They take ages and those big downloads eat up precious bandwidth and storage.
Good news then: Microsoft is about to make your life a whole lot easier with the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update.
It’s introducing something called ‘checkpoint cumulative updates.’ That might sound a bit technical, but don’t worry – it’s simple and very beneficial.
Normally, Windows gets its updates every month. These are known as cumulative updates, which bundle all the latest fixes and enhancements together. These bundles can be large and take a while to download and install.
The new checkpoint cumulative updates change this process. Instead of downloading a big update every time, your system will now receive smaller updates more frequently. These are tweaks to the last major update or checkpoint.
So, what does this mean for your business? It’s great news… you’ll spend less time waiting for updates to finish so you can get back to work.
And, if you have a limited internet connection, smaller updates are a blessing. They use less bandwidth, so less chance of interrupting someone else’s video call.
The best part? All of this happens automatically through Windows Update. You don’t need to do anything differently. Your system will keep running smoothly, with most updates happening in the background. This seamless experience ensures that your work is not interrupted.
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has streamlined updates. When Windows 11 was first launched, Microsoft used new compression technology to reduce the size of updates by 40%. With the 24H2 update, they’re taking it a step further to ensure that your experience is even more efficient.
It’s also worth noting that while this new update system will be standard for Windows 11 and the upcoming Windows Server 2025, it’s less likely to be implemented for Windows 10, as that version is nearing its end of life. This means there’s even more incentive to upgrade your business to Windows 11 if you haven’t already.
Want to migrate to Windows 11 with zero hassle? We’re the people to talk to.
by Richard Jones | Aug 26, 2024 | Business, Cloud, Microsoft, New Technology, Productivity, Working from Home
There’s an exciting new feature coming to Microsoft’s Edge browser that’s going to make your life – and your employees’ lives – a whole lot easier. ‘Draft with Copilot’ is an AI-powered tool that can instantly write text on any topic you need.
When you’re in Edge and you find yourself staring at an empty text field (like the body of an email or a comment box), just right-click. You’ll see an option to ‘Draft with Copilot.’
Click on it, and a window will pop up. You just enter the subject or topic you need text for, hit ‘Generate,’ and watch Copilot do its thing. In a few moments, you’ll have a piece of text on the topic you specified.
You can then change the tone and length of the generated text to suit your style. Want it to be more formal or casual? Need it longer or shorter? No problem.
We all know time is money, ’Draft with Copilot’ can help save you both. Imagine how much time your team spend on writing everyday text. With Copilot, drafting a quick email or coming up with a social media update becomes easier.
And Copilot not only helps you write faster but also makes sure the text is grammatically correct and well-structured. This is especially helpful if you’re writing in a language that’s not your native one.
Right now, this feature is only available in US English, but Microsoft is working on expanding it to more languages.
One warning: It’s important to review what it produces. Critics of AI-generated text sometimes say it can feel a bit generic. You might want to add a personal touch or specific details to make it more engaging for your audience.
This feature is currently in the Edge Canary preview build, which means it’s still being fine-tuned.
Microsoft is steadily integrating Copilot into more Windows apps, making these AI tools more accessible and versatile across different platforms. It’s clear that the future holds even more convenient AI-assisted features that will make our digital lives easier.
Not tried Copilot in your business yet? We can help you get started. Get in touch.
by Richard Jones | Aug 18, 2024 | Business, Cybersecurity, IT Management, Microsoft, New Technology
Microsoft has issued an important update: If you’re using Windows 11, you need to upgrade to version 23H2 before 8th October 2024. After this, older versions will no longer receive essential security updates, putting your systems at risk.
Why is this important?
Because Microsoft will stop supporting older Windows 11 versions for business accounts. This includes stopping security updates, which are vital for protecting your systems against the latest cyber threats.
The latest version includes advanced security features to protect against new threats, making sure your business data remains safe. But updating to Windows 11 version 23H2 brings other benefits beyond security.
You’ll also notice performance improvements, making your systems run faster and more efficiently, which is great for productivity. Plus, new tools and features are continually added, helping streamline your workflows and improve overall efficiency. Staying updated ensures compatibility with new software and technologies, maintaining smooth business operations.
Delaying the update could leave your business vulnerable to cyber attacks. Without security updates, your systems will be exposed to potential exploits, risking data breaches and financial loss.
Microsoft typically enforces updates post-deadline to keep people safe, especially for business devices not managed by IT departments. While this is helpful, it’s better to update proactively on your own schedule.
Updating to version 23H2 is straightforward.
- First, check your current version by going to Settings, then System, and selecting About.
- Before updating, make sure to back up all your important files to prevent data loss.
- Navigate to Settings, then Update & Security, and select Windows Update.
- Click on “Check for updates” and follow the prompts to install version 23H2.
- Once the update is complete, restart your computer and verify the new version in Settings, System, and About again.
Making sure your systems are up to date will keep your business secure and running efficiently. Don’t wait until the last minute… upgrade to Windows 11 version 23H2 now.
Keeping businesses protected and productive is our top priority. So, if you need any help with that, get in touch.
by Richard Jones | Aug 12, 2024 | Business, Business Continuity, Cybersecurity, IT Management, New Technology
Here’s a topic that’s been making headlines and causing sleepless nights for many: Cyber extortion.
Is it something that’s on your radar? It should be, because it might affect your business one day.
What is cyber extortion?
It’s a type of cyber crime where criminals threaten to harm your business by compromising its data and digital assets unless a ransom is paid. These threats often involve ransomware, a malicious software that encrypts your data, making it inaccessible until you pay the ransom.
Sometimes, cyber criminals go a step further by stealing data and threatening to release it publicly on dark web leak sites if their demands aren’t met. This dual threat is known as double extortion.
According to a 2024 report, the number of victims of cyber extortion scams has skyrocketed by 77% over the past year. What’s more, small businesses are four times more likely to be targeted compared to their larger counterparts. This is a worrying trend, especially considering that smaller businesses often have fewer resources to defend against these attacks.
In the first quarter of this year alone, 1,046 businesses fell victim to double extortion. That may not seem huge, but bear in mind the actual number is likely much higher since many cases go unreported, hiding in the shadows of what experts call the “dark number.”
The truth is, all businesses, regardless of size or industry, are potential targets. However, certain sectors are more frequently attacked. Manufacturing, professional, scientific, and technical services, as well as wholesale trade, top the list. Alarmingly, the healthcare and social assistance sectors are also seeing a significant rise in attacks, despite the potential societal and political repercussions.
Cyber criminals are opportunistic and strategic. They target regions with strong economic growth and shared languages. For instance, cyber extortion attacks in the UK have increased by 96%.
While the rise in cyber extortion is a big worry, there are steps you can take to protect your business. Here are some key strategies:
Back up your data: Make sure you have a robust backup plan. Keep your critical data in an offline or offsite location and regularly test your backup restoration process.
Keep software updated: Make sure all your devices use the latest software, especially those connected to the internet.
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Strengthen your access controls with MFA. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring multiple forms of verification before access is granted (such as a code on a separate device). Also, limit user access to only the systems they need for their job.
Patch and vulnerability management: Regularly update your systems to fix any security vulnerabilities. Cyber criminals often exploit known weaknesses, so staying on top of patches can prevent many attacks.
By understanding what cyber extortion is and how it works, you can better prepare your business to defend against it. Remember, the key is to be proactive.
If we can help prepare your business and keep it safe, get in touch.
by Richard Jones | Jul 29, 2024 | Business, Microsoft, Productivity, Working from Home
If you’ve ever found yourself wincing at the sound of a Microsoft Teams notification breaking your concentration, you’re not alone.
Here’s some news that might be music to your ears then: Microsoft has just rolled out an update that promises to make these interruptions much more manageable. With the latest update, you can customise your notification sounds on Teams. We believe that will make it easier to stay focused and prioritise your work.
Instead of the generic “ping” that jolts you out of your workflow, you could opt for a more soothing chime or even a subtle whoosh. This might seem like a small change, but it can make a big impact on how you manage your day. Being able to differentiate between urgent alerts and less critical messages through sound can help you prioritise effectively and reduce unnecessary distractions.
For business owners like you, this update is more than just a new feature – it’s a tool to enhance productivity and team efficiency. By allowing your team to customise their notification sounds, you make it easy for them to tailor their work environment to their personal needs. For instance, urgent messages from key contacts can be assigned a distinct sound that grabs attention immediately, while routine notifications can have a softer, less intrusive tone.
This kind of prioritisation is essential in a busy work environment where managing time and focus is vital. It can help prevent important messages from getting lost in the noise of everyday communications and ensure that team members can respond promptly to those pressing issues without being constantly disrupted.
The business benefits of this update are clear. First, it helps create a more focused and efficient work environment. When employees aren’t constantly interrupted by generic notification sounds, they can maintain their concentration for longer periods, leading to higher productivity levels.
And by enabling the muting of notifications during meetings or focused work sessions, the update makes sure that important discussions and deep work sessions go uninterrupted. This feature is particularly handy in today’s hybrid work environment, where distractions can come from multiple channels.
While the customisable notification sounds are a standout feature, Microsoft Teams offers a huge range of other benefits that make it an invaluable tool for business. It integrates smoothly with other 365 applications, providing a unified platform for all your business needs.
Whether it’s collaborating on documents, scheduling meetings, or managing projects, Teams brings everything together in one place. Teams has a robust set of tools that make teamwork easier and more efficient.
If you’re not already using Teams, where have you been? Give it a try and see how it can help you streamline your workflows and communication.
We can help you customise Microsoft Teams to be perfect for your business. Get in touch.
by Richard Jones | Jul 22, 2024 | Business, Cybersecurity, IT Management, New Technology, Working from Home
If you use Google Chrome in your business, you’re probably familiar with extensions. These useful tools can enhance your browsing experience in countless ways, from blocking annoying ads to reducing distractions.
Extensions are incredibly popular because they can add so much functionality to your browser. But just as you need to be careful when installing new apps on your phone, you must also be cautious when adding new extensions to your browser. That’s because they come with a risk of malware.
It’s short for malicious software – that’s any software intentionally designed to cause damage to a computer, server, or network. Cyber criminals use malware to steal data, hijack systems, and even empty your bank accounts.
Google Chrome holds about 65% of the browser market share worldwide, making it the most popular browser by far. This popularity makes Chrome a prime target for cyber criminals. While cyber attacks sometimes exploit vulnerabilities in the browser itself, there’s an easier way to target Chrome users: Through malicious extensions containing malware.
Although Google keeps a tight watch on its Chrome Web Store, the risk is still there. A recent report claims 280 million people installed a malware-infected Chrome extension between July 2020 and February 2023. That’s a huge number and highlights the importance of being vigilant.
Surprisingly, many malicious extensions remained available for download on the Chrome Web Store for a long time. On average, malware-filled extensions stayed up for 380 days, while those with vulnerable code were available for about 1,248 days. One particularly notorious extension was downloadable for 8 and a half years before being removed.
So, how can you protect yourself and your business from these malicious extensions? Here are five steps we recommend.
1. External reviews: Since checking ratings and reviews on the Chrome Web Store isn’t always reliable (many malicious extensions don’t have reviews), look for external reviews from trusted tech sites to judge whether an extension is safe.
2. Permissions: Be cautious if an extension asks for more permissions than it should. If a new extension requests extensive access to your data or system, this could be a red flag.
3. Security software: Use robust software to catch malware before it can do any harm. This is your last line of defence if you accidentally install a malicious extension.
4. Necessity: Before installing any new software or browser extensions, consider whether you really need it. Often, you can achieve the same functionality visiting a website.
5. Trusted sources: Only install extensions from trusted sources or well-known software providers. This significantly reduces the risk of downloading a harmful extension.
Chrome is the most popular browser, which means it will always be a target for cyber criminals. Google’s security team works hard to review every Chrome extension to ensure they are safe, but it’s still crucial to be vigilant.
If you’re unsure whether your extensions are safe or not, or you’d like more advice around keeping your business secure, our team can help. Get in touch.
