Are You Underestimating the Importance of Data Security?

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Since the invention of the internet, data has taken on a whole new meaning. While advancement in technologies has made it convenient for us to share, store, input, and review data from virtually anywhere, this also puts businesses and everyday consumers at risk. 

Everything from your bank account information and social media profile to client and payment information is vulnerable with the use of any device. Have you been underestimating the importance of keeping it secure?

How is Data Risked? 

Though most consumers and businesses are aware of risks such computer viruses and cyber attacks, most aren’t aware of the various ways in which data can become compromised. Here are some of the most common risks:

Theft

What happens if your laptop, desktop, or smartphone becomes stolen? How much data have you just put at risk? Deliberate attacks happen often to businesses and individuals who could be holding sensitive information. Theft doesn’t have to come in the form of a robber sticking you up at gunpoint either. From former employees stealing sensitive information to competing organizations trying to learn trade secrets, data is stolen all the time. Though companies like Capitol Digital & Califorensics can help to recover data from a damaged or stolen device, taking preventative measures is always best.

Loss

Everyone is human and entitled to make a mistake from time to time. Data can easily be lost by misplacing a smartphone, misfiling documents, or losing a laptop while waiting at the airport. This sensitive information can now be in the hands of anyone leaving you open to exposure.

Neglect

How many times have you discarded of a phone, computer, or laptop without wiping the information on them clean? Did you know that if not properly erased, others who buy the devices can pull and use this information to their advantage? Other forms of neglect might include the failure to create strong enough passwords which provide easy access to sensitive programs, and even data such as forms or letters that are not properly shredded can be a form of neglect that leaves you vulnerable to a data breach.

How Can You Improve Data Security? 

As you can see, there are a lot more risks out there than viruses and malware. If you want to keep your data secure, it is imperative to be proactive in implementing some of the following preventative measures:

1. Install antivirus software – Don’t underestimate the importance of antivirus software. This should be installed on your computer and your smartphones to prevent hackers from accessing information through apps and online programs.

2. Create passwords – Whether in the office, at home, or on the go, all your devices applications and programs should have strong passwords to make it harder for a thief to steal your information. Create passwords that you can remember, however, that aren’t too easy for others to learn.

3. Train Staff – For those who are concerned about data breaches in the office should be sure to properly educate their staff on cyber security as well as policies and procedure that should be followed in the office to minimize the potential for a data breach.

4. Backup Data – Some things are beyond your control. If you happen to lose your smartphone or get hacked at work having your data backed up can make recovering a lot easier. Whether you use cloud storage, a flash drive, or another device to store your data, it can save a lot of time and money in the long run.

You never know just how vulnerable you are until you’re hacked, your phone gets lost, or someone deliberately steals confidential information from you. Outside of being prepared with the above-mentioned tips, it is ideal to set up solutions like data forensics recovery, backup storage, and other IT solutions to minimize the impact of a data breach.

What are your thoughts? If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly or post them below. Thanks!

*by andreascy*

The Growth of Cloud Computing Markets

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

The cloud computing markets are growing at a rapid pace. People prefer to incorporate cloud technology in their day to day work because of its convenience. According to the reports of IDC, public cloud spending is expected to grow to more than $195 billion in 2020 from $96.5 billion in 2016.

Cloud computing is growing at a robust rate at the moment and it has a promising future. If you are making plans to invest on a technology based company, you are provided with a variety of advantages, thanks to cloud computing. 

What Exactly is Cloud Computing? 

The concept of cloud computing is somewhat abstract. However, it is not as difficult to understand the heart of it. The service providers that offer cloud services help people to store applications and data remotely on servers and then access those files through the internet at any time they want. In other words, you can simply upload videos, documents and photos to the cloud and retrieve them at your convenience. 

Cloud computing consists of three main services. They include: 

• Software as a Service (SaaS) – Software as a Service is associated with the licensure of applications to customers and it is deployed online. The licenses are provided in two different mechanisms as on demand or pay as you go model. 

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – Infrastructure as a Service includes offering everything from servers to operating systems through IP based connectivity. 

• Platform as a Service (PaaS) – Platform as a Service can be considered as the most complex layer of cloud based computing. It offers a platform, which can be used to create software. The developed software is then delivered to end customers through the Internet. 

What Factors Are Responsible for the Growth of Cloud Computing Markets?

The development of cloud based services has delivered a variety of benefits for companies that belong to many different sectors. For instance, companies have the opportunity to use software from any device by just connecting to the cloud. The connection can easily be established through an Internet browser or a native app. This can help individuals to carry over their settings and files to other compatible devices in a seamless manner. 

As a result of cloud computing, people are able to check for their emails on any computer or mobile device. In fact, most people prefer to store their files on cloud services such as Google Drive and Dropbox. On the other hand, some people use cloud services to back up their photos, music and files. This way they can make sure all their files are immediately available through the cloud service when the hard drives crash. 

Cloud computing markets can be divided into several categories. All these markets have seen an unprecedented growth over the past couple of years. These markets include: 

• Centralized Data Centers – Along with the increasing demand for cloud computing, a lot of centralized data centers have been established. Necessary plans have been taken in order to construct many more in the future as well. Some of the industry giants such as Amazon have figured out that the future lies within the cloud. As a result, they are investing billions of dollars on the development of data centers throughout the country. According to the reports of Reuters, Amazon is planning to make cloud computing as the largest part of its business in the future. 

• Security – Security is one of the major concerns associated with cloud computing. People tend to store their sensitive information on the cloud and they are always concerned about the security. As a result, a lot of companies have started offering cloud security solutions for the people in need. Qualys and Websense can be considered as perfect examples of the aforementioned trend. 

• Storage – Modern world people do not prefer to store information on local storage devices such as hard drives. Instead, they prefer to seek the assistance of cloud based solutions as they can save the files to a remote database. This can be considered as the main reason behind the popularity of Vendors such as Dropbox and Mozy. Now people can easily move all their files to a secure storage cloud in a convenient manner. It is even possible to sync the files stored in your hard drive with the cloud automatically. 

• Cloud Based Applications – Cloud computing offers a variety of services for the people as well. Software as a Service holds a prominent place out of them. Taleo, SalesForce and Keynote Systems are some world famous companies, which offer their services through cloud computing technology. A lot of other companies are making plans to offer their services to the people in need via cloud computing. This is one of the most convenient methods available for the software developers to let their end users access the applications with slow internet connections. 

• Virtualization Technology – Cloud based solutions are in a position to deliver some sort of application technology or desktop virtualization. VMware and Citrix are ideal examples for leading vendors who offer virtualization technology through cloud. 

Apparently, based on the demand of the public, a lot of money is being invested on cloud computing markets by the industrial giants. According to the financial predictions of IDC, revenue generated by worldwide cloud computing markets would rise to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.4% over the 2015-2020 forecast period. Currently the industries at the forefront of public cloud services spending consist of discrete manufacturing, banking, and professional services, which makes for nearly a third of total worldwide revenues in 2016. 

In respect to the five year period predicted by IDC, the industries that are expected to reach the fastest revenue growth are media, telecommunications, and retail. Nevertheless, all 20 industries who share profiles in the spending guide will see revenue growth of more than 100% over the forecast period. The cloud computing markets are thus rapidly expanding on a daily basis and it would be a great idea to invest on these markets, given that you have this sort of budget.

Summary 

The future of cloud computing looks promising and it is expected to grow exponentially in the future. It is predicted that cloud computing would establish itself in the IT industry. Given the technological progress and research currently taking place, people will also be able to experience an explosion of new solutions in cloud computing markets. It remains to be seen how this technology will continue to grow.

*by andreascy*

Microsoft’s Discovery of the Decade: ‘The Nadella’

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Satya Nadella has been working as the CEO of Microsoft for two years now. Throughout the past two years, he has revolutionized Microsoft. Therefore, people even describe Nadella as the Microsoft’s Discovery of the Decade. The main objective of Nadella is to drive the company forward along with a cloud and mobile focus. The decision he took has created a significant impact behind the success of the software giant. 

Microsoft got the opportunity to feel fresh throughout the past few years under the guidance of Satya Nadella. Some people say that Nadella is running the Steve Ballmer’s Microsoft.Under the guidance of Nadella, Microsoft paid special attention towards protecting Windows. Windows Vista came out during the Ballmer’s period and it was not a success. Even though Vista took a long time to hit the market, the company was not able to cater the expectations of the users. It also created a negative impact on the mobile platform of Microsoft. This fact played a major role behind the popularity of iPhones over Lumia.

As we can see, the plans created by Ballmer are not perfect. However, Nadella has executed some of the plans that were created by Ballmer. He takes a whole new approach when executing these plans in order to deliver positive results to the company. Taking Microsoft Office for iPad can be considered as a perfect example.

The strategic vision of Satya Nadella has contributed a lot towards the success of Microsoft throughout the past two years. Microsoft was there on every desktop, but it was not so popular on mobile devices. Nadella noticed the increasing popularity of mobile devices, so he took necessary measures to make Windows popular in the mobile industry. Therefore, Office was released to Android tablets, Apple iPads and even Raspberry Pi devices. At the moment, Office is a popular application that can be found in these devices.

Nadella did not abandon windows. During the Windows 10 Technical Preview release, he said that he has very big hopes and aspirations on the Windows operating system. He dreams about having people want Windows to choose Windows. In addition, Nadella took necessary measures to give life to very capable versions of Microsoft Office. Office has been the greatest selling point of Microsoft throughout the past few years. 

Satya Nadella is a person who is equipped with a tactical vision. In fact, he does not make short term plans. He thinks few years ahead and creates the plans accordingly to deliver positive results with measurable outcomes. Moreover, he can be defined as a person who communicates very efficiently. He can convince his ideas to someone and grab another person’s ideas in an effective manner through communication. 

As you already know, Satya Nadella has guided Microsoft in the correct track under his leadership. The company has seen many different changes in its board level throughout the past two years. Ballmer left his position and Nadella did not discover any crocodile tears from the people who stayed with the company. Few months later, some other board members resigned and they were replaced by suitable candidates by Satya Nadella. However, the senior leaders did not change under the guidance of Nadella. Bill Gates is supposed to devote more time towards the success of Microsoft after his step down. However, it didn’t happen as expected and Satya Nadella got the responsibility of driving the company. Nadella was able to manage everything accordingly and he did not face any hassle. His excellent leadership qualities helped him throughout the difficult times. The secret behind the success of Nadella was that he took necessary measures to attract individuals and maintain an excellent inner circle. This helped the entire top management to stay away from frustration.

Satya Nadella is a person who identified the exact difference in between Windows Mobile and Windows Mobile. It seems a bit confusing. Windows Mobile is the name that is given to the operating system, which powers up Windows smartphones. This operating system can also be found in Intel and ARM based tablets. However, Windows Mobile has a bigger scope. As per Nadella, Lumia phones, Surface tablets, the Band and the HoloLens are expected to be a part of the Windows mobile ecosystem in the future. In addition, the CEO is extremely concerned about developing stable services and applications to be run on Windows mobile devices. In the world we live, people prefer to use their mobile devices over personal computers. However, Windows smart mobile devices are not popular among them, when compared to iOS and Android devices. Satya Nadella has the vision of making Windows mobile popular among smart device users who live in every corner of the world.

 

Satya Nadella is also concerned about cross platforms. Once he stated that Microsoft will not be developing services and software for the platforms of other companies. Instead, he is concerned about developing applications that are compatible with cross-platforms and making them a part of the Microsoft’s DNA. 

Microsoft has started focusing on bundling after the supervision of Satya Nadella. Nadella wants to bundle up all the services and applications that are offered by Microsoft. The business apps developed by the software giant became very successful when they were packaged as the Office Suite. The release of Office 365 in many different suites can be considered as a great example to prove the above mentioned fact. 

Last but not least, Satya Nadella is concerned about being ahead of the customer demand. They have done big mistakes in the past by not paying attention towards the demands of the customers. Nadella has understood these issues and he has taken necessary measures to deliver a service that customers really need. Therefore, Nadella can be considered as the best discovery of Microsoft in the decade. 

SEE ALSO: How to Dress for Success

So, what you guys think? Let us know down below in the comments. Please share and help spread the information! 

*by andreascy*

Top 3 Tech Tools for Managers That Mean Business

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

What sets a successful business apart from one that closes its doors after just a few short months? The numbers 20 and 80. These two figures make up what is known as the Pareto Principle, which is named after an Italian economic expert named Vilfredo Pareto. At the turn of the century, Pareto realized that just 20 percent of the people in Italy owned 80 percent of the land. What is interesting about the Pareto Principle is that it applies to all sorts of business-related statistics.

For example, 20 percent of clients are typically responsible for 80 percent of sales, and 20 percent of employees usually help to bring in 80 percent of the customers. The 80/20 Rule, as it is commonly called, can be so powerful that smart business owners can use it to help grow their company. If they can figure out who their top sales people are, they can arm them with whatever tools are needed to help bring in the lion’s share of the clients.

In order for sales people to succeed in business and help become part of the incredible 20 percent who are responsible for bringing in 80 percent of the business, the following technological tools can help them, and managers, stay at the top of their game.

Mind Manager

Successful salespeople typically juggle a lot of plates at once. In order to keep ideas and projects organized, a software program like MindManager will come in handy. In addition to helping sales people brainstorm, it also allows them to create business plans, organize all of their tasks, manage meetings and much more.

Essentially, MindManager helps salespeople keep tabs on and map out the dozens of ideas and plans they have in their heads in a cohesive and helpful way.

Salesforce Reporting

In order to grow their business, company owners need to know a variety of facts and figures, including which areas of the state or country have the most clients and which regions are less active. Salesforce reporting with InsightSquared allows business owners to effectively analyze how their salespeople are doing. In addition to showing in black and white which employees are doing the best, Salesforce will also help managers identify which team members need to step up their game and bring in more clients.

As a bonus, while looking closely at regional sales and employee performance can take up a lot of time, Salesforce will do all of the heavy number crunching. This will give leaders more time to effectively manage and encourage their team of salespeople and inspire them to bring in as much business as possible.

ClearSlide

Unlike the days of yore when being a successful salesperson only required having good powers of persuasion, these days each employee needs also to be aware of the various tools that can help his or her company succeed. Keeping tabs on the latest innovative tools can help salespeople get into that coveted 20 percent from the Pareto Principle. One Web-based tool that will help salespeople and managers succeed is ClearSlide.

This tool allows sales reps to easily share presentations about products and services while also getting an accurate indication of their clients reactions with automatic alerts when links are clicked, or emails are opened. This helpful information can impact how effective a sales team can be, and allow them to make changes to their sales pitches as needed.

RECOMMENDED: 3 Best Tools For Construction Project Management

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*by andreascy*

3 Best Tools For Construction Project Management

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

With the right tools at their disposal, construction managers attempt to deliver projects on-budget and in-time. That’s the exact aim of the developers behind construction project management tools. 

Previously, these software-based tools had a limitation of tying contractors to a computer. But with the development of the cloud & mobile-based applications, the information and applications allow construction company employees to work in collaboration without being tied to a specific location. 

Also, contractors are able to access their information from any portable computer, smartphone, tablet, or device. The only thing required is a decent internet connection. So moving to the cloud and deploying mobile resources have answered many challenges faced by the construction industry. Additionally, modern software solutions are well-equipped in terms of security and can provide better information protection. 

Acknowledging all these developments, here are the 3 best tools construction managers and other users can leverage for seamless construction project management: 

Fippex 

Beyond texts and email, there are tools like Fippex that provide comprehensive collaboration and communication with clients. Such tools also provide documentation on material, order changes, and allowance items. One of the main benefits is improved communication between you and your clients as well as your sub-contractors and your staff.

Fippex also provides an update when a client logs-in, streams a video, executes a document, downloads an agreement, or carries out any other system activity. You can also upload items to keep clients updated on the progress particular projects. Think of Fippex being a central repository of all the content of each project; you don’t have to worry about if everyone has the latest content at hand and it can be accessed 24 hours a day from any remote location over the web. 

Procore Construction Management Software 

This software bypasses the ‘specific machine’ trap by letting users have instant access with a user ID and password. This means every web-connected machine has access to the software, so that your team members can get their work done wherever they are. Procore becomes the central repository for all change orders, RFI responses and statuses, schedule changes, project documents, and photos. Any documents impacting the project can be stored within the cloud.

Users can also contact Procore for dedicated account management, tips on implementation, and customer support. 

Infor CRM 

This software lets you manage relationships with prospects, clients and contractors in a single location; from the start of the contact till project completion, Saleslgoix helps in keeping track of all documentation, interaction, and communications throughout the project’s duration. Users are empowered to share data across departments via a single database that can be accessed from both within and outside the office.

Other features include entering all contacts and communicating with them in a consolidating place, keeping track of client meeting by role, and flagging and setting reminders for client communication about status updates, change orders, RFIs, and more.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: Tech for the Sales Team 

We can't thank you enough for your feedback and support. It's based on this collective input that we've revamped our Blog. So, keep them coming! Hit me up with your questions.

*by andreascy*

Tech for the Sales Team

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Every salesperson and sales manager has some war stories—the customer from hell, the disastrous sales trip and the awkward moments during conference calls. Add on jet lag, busy schedules and lonely road trips to create a challenging career. But, a tough day is worth it when you land that huge new customer or close the big deals. 

It can be easy for sales people to get overwhelmed with the complexities of prospecting for new business, traveling frequently and preparing for important presentations. That’s where new technology can make a real difference. Current technology can automate critical sales tasks, keep salespeople organized and help them make the best impression with customers.

Cloud Solutions

With sales teams spread out over different territories, busy sales managers need cloud tech solutions to stay competitive. Cloud providers give sales managers a user-friendly console to manage sales data and users from one source. They also provide the security of cloud backup and access from anywhere for busy sales teams on the go. Sync features let sales reps access company sales data securely with their own devices at the office or remotely.

Make Emails and Calls More Efficient

Scheduling is a challenge for busy salespeople on the road. Anything that makes scheduling appointments easier and faster can mean the difference between making 10 calls or 30 calls in a day. Tools like TimeTrade let salespeople embed their availability into sales emails, and save them time and improve their efficiency with a “Click to Schedule” button. It also syncs with Google and Salesforce so sales reps can easily access, control and publish their availability without a lot of back and forth communications.

Moreover, automating outbound calls with tools like XANT, which syncs with Salesforce and provides call analytics, gives your sales people an edge. The cloud-based outbound dialer also uses phone numbers with local area codes to increase the probability of calls getting through.

Never Forget a Thank You

Follow up and showing appreciation are important to sales and customer service. The personal touch of thank you cards adds a layer of courtesy and attention that customers remember, and the little things matter. Although it’s not always easy to find the time for all the follow up you’d like, busy salespeople now can utilize services such as Booked Solid Cards, an online service that sends out personalized thank you cards in your handwriting and with your signature. All they have to do is enter an email, and users report that it costs less than buying and mailing cards yourself.

Use Smartphone Apps to Work Faster and Better

Apps are the latest tools for sales people. Salespeople rely on their company’s customer relationship management system and absolutely need a companion mobile app to access it while away from the office, says Forbes contributor Gene Marks.

Marks also highly recommends a mobile payment processor like Square to collect deposits and payments on delivery, prepayments and customer information up front. This prevents them from waiting for an accounting process like invoicing and statements or follow up collection calls.

Another great app is Xpenser (acquired by Coupa Software), which helps busy salespeople keep track of expenses in real time instead of waiting for a monthly reconciliation where critical expense documentation may be lost or forgotten. Marks reminds busy salespeople that many sales software products already have built in mobile expense management features so they might need to check with their IT department first.

Looking forward to your insight. Leave a LIKE if you agree. 👇✌

*by andreascy*

Making BYOD Work For Your Company

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Many businesses are getting in tune with the digital age, and one of the ways they are doing it is by adopting a bring your own device (BYOD) policy for employees. 

It is a process that has been somewhat slow to be fully adopted by businesses for a few reasons. First, many employers are hesitant to let their employees store private company documents on their own devices for fear that the privacy is compromised. Also, if certain business applications and log ins are used on the employee devices, and the employee leaves to go work for a rival company, they can still view and log in to those applications. 

Through mobile device management (MDM), your business can take the necessary steps in making sure that it will not get burned by instituting a BYOD policy. In fact, the two go hand in hand. In order to execute a safe BYOD policy, companies also need to employ an MDM strategy. Mobile communication companies like BlackBerry have been offering MDM solutions for several years. As the BYOD and MDM trend continue to gain interest, services are becoming even more readily available.

Since BYOD policies are gaining much attention, companies are starting to realize the importance of some of the benefits, such as saving money on hardware, reserving IT resources and creating employee satisfaction. Companies still have to be careful when implementing a BYOD policy because no two companies are identical, so your approach should be tailored. 

Here are a few management best practices to help make BYOD work for your company:

• It is important, first and foremost, to have your employees agree to all levels of a BYOD policy, and do it in writing. This will help all parties maintain a smooth working relationship within the BYOD policy.

• The policy should be clear on what happens if the device is lost or stolen. Companies have the capability to wipe out all of the data associated with their private documents to prevent unauthorized access. 

• Business documents and personal documents need to be divided from each other. This can be done through good application management and programming.

• The policy also needs to clearly state that the devices be compliant with laws and regulations specific to the company’s industry. For example, if you work in government, you need to make sure that by having a BYOD policy, you aren’t violating any legal or confidentiality policies.

• There needs to be a policy about what to do with the device if an employee is terminated for any reason. People change jobs all the time, and you’d hate for them to be able to access all of your company documents after their time there is done, especially if they move on to work for a rival company.

• Lastly, your BYOD policy needs to clearly state that each employee needs to follow specific security guidelines. All personal devices used in a BYOD policy must be secure so as they cannot be exposed to malware, viruses, hacks or any other security breach.

RECOMMENDED: BYOD in Call Centers: Innovation or Disaster?

Since there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to a BYOD policy, there is definitely a way to cater it so it works for your company. 

*by andreascy*

BYOD in Call Centers: Innovation or Disaster?

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Bring Your Own Device policies have been a source of debate in businesses around the world since mobile technology first became commercially viable, and especially since phones and tablets have become so multifaceted. 

The modern era of multitask devices brings this conversation to a new height, with industries in some cases moving to ubiquitous and exclusive tablet PC usage. BYOD becomes tempting to a myriad of businesses, and certainly, there are gains to be had, as ACM Digital Library claims. But do such policies bring more pros or cons to the call center industry, a field where customer privacy and employee morale both play major roles?

Pros of BYOD

Productivity. Having access to personal devices can make life much easier for your employees, especially if you have an abundance of tech-savvy individuals on your staff. BYOD brings flexibility and employee ingenuity to new heights in a way that is quite simply impossible with standardized company equipment.

Modern call centers can benefit from a number of CRM packages and various apps for iPads and other tablet devices - applications which prove most useful when customized and used in an equally familiar, customized device.

Costs. BYOD lets you attain many of the benefits of company-issued technology with a fraction of the costs. You lose the benefits of standardizations and risk a few downsides. However, if you lack the budget for a major tech overhaul but have employees with their own devices, the solution creates itself.

Morale. There are several ways a BYOD policy works to benefit morale. Using a familiar device just 'feels' better to many people. If your workforce is self-motivated and has proper self-control, the 'fun' factor available from personal devices also lends itself to morale boosts.

Being able to relax and read an e-book or play Angry Birds on break can be a benefit, especially in an industry as focused on customer-employee interaction as call centers. Keeping up employee morale can be the single hardest task in running a call center, so anything that helps is worth considering.

Cons of BYOD

Productivity. Personal devices mean problems that your IT guys will never figure out; people manage to screw up their personal machines in ways that are unfathomable. Hours will be lost resolving issues which don't exist, and can't exist, within standard employer-issued systems.

There's also the 'fun' factor. If your workforce lacks self-control and self-motivation, a BYOD policy will lead to people goofing off on the clock. It's impossible to prevent savvy users from finding ways to waste time on their own devices. That often means you risk productivity issues from one angle or another.

Security. Personal devices offer as many avenues of attack as you have unique employee devices. The headache for your IT security team may be too high and the risk not worth the potential gains, especially if you have employees lacking the savvy to safeguard their own devices. Standardized systems offer standardized solutions and a fraction of the risk.

Data Management. Data management is the biggest con to consider as a data center, as Science Direct explains. Your employees deal with sensitive customer data every moment of their work day, and BYOD policies open massive holes in typical data control schemes.

It's trivial to walk away with sensitive information, and it can be difficult to keep track of which devices should and should not have access. You run the risk of a device interacting with your data in an unintended manner and causing disastrous losses.

Overall

The feasibility of a BYOD policy in a call center in many ways depends on your employee base. A self-motivated, tech-savvy population will see gains across the board with little risk. If you have problems with motivation, untrustworthy employees, and IT ignorance, then BYOD may only serve to compound your problems.

MORE ON THE TOPIC: Making BYOD Work For Your Company

Be sure to read more articles for more information. 

*by andreascy*

Keeping Your Treasured Photos Safe

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Just imagine all the thousands of photos stored in phones, digital cameras and laptops. The Daily Mail estimates that almost 40 percent of such individuals have no backup of those files. 

These devices break, wear out or are damaged every day, and with them thousands of photos are lost. Make sure you have backup plan for your treasured memories. Those moments in time can be lost forever if you don't protect them.

Local Backups and Broken Hard Drives

Most people know they should back up their files regularly. This often happens at home to a computer hard drive or maybe to an external drive. Local backups are a good idea because it does make a copy of the files. However, it's not such a good idea for long-term storage because hardware does break.

Backblaze estimates that 22 percent of hard drives, on average, fail in the first four years of use. The failure rate is higher if the computer or hard drive is used continually, or is used in hot, dusty environments. You also could experience a failure if there is a sudden spike on the electric circuit, such as during a lighting storm. You could lose years of photos on one failed drive.

While there are recovery services who will attempt to retrieve files off of a dead hard drive for you, these are expensive with no guarantee the recovery will be 100 percent successful. A better option is to have multiple ways of backing up your photos.

Backing Up to the Cloud

Cloud Storage Services have matured into an easy way for people to save all types of files, including photos. Most are easy to set up. Some offer automated backup, so you don't even have to remember to do the backup yourself. Some vendors require you to load small programs onto your computer to do the backup while others rely on a browser-based online application.

Having a combination of backups is safest. Do a local backup of your photos from your phone or camera to the computer and a regular backup to your cloud storage. One way to use your cloud storage is as an archival system.

Since your files are in the cloud, you have access to them anywhere. For example, photos you take during a vacation can be uploaded to your cloud storage from your hotel room and then you can access them again when you get home. Or you can check on photos you took during your last trip to your destination to see if you already have photos of certain scenic spots.

The Safety of Your Photos

USA Today finds that cloud storage is as safe as other storage options. Most cloud service providers use encryption to store your files so they can't be viewed by others. Data is stored on huge disk farms, which are constantly monitored for potential disk failures. The systems cloud providers use allow the replacement of disk drives without creating any downtime. You don't have to worry about a drive failing and losing photos.

Keeping Those Non-Digital Photos Safe

If you have a number of regular film photos, you can keep them save as well. CNET shows how you can scan those photos to create digital copies. Or you can have a service do that for you. A digital copy of a film photo is easier to store, doesn't fade, or get damaged by water or fire. You could scan your print photos and store the originals in a fireproof box or in a safe deposit box with your bank.

RECOMMENDED: 5 Ways to Preserve Precious Family Photos

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*by andreascy*

5 Ways to Preserve Precious Family Photos

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

It's worse than a punch in the gut—that awful realization that your computer has crashed and your wedding photos are gone, your beach vacation photos are gone, and your baby's first birthday photos ... gone. 

You scold yourself for not backing them up, saving them to a disk, or leaving them on your memory card. You swear you'll never make that mistake again, but how can you prevent a virus from wiping out your priceless photos again? Here are a few ways to make sure they're stored safely and securely.

1. Keep them in the Cloud

Upload your precious photos to cloud storage where they'll be safely stored until you need them again. Accessing them at any time is easy, and you'll never again experience that sinking feeling that comes with knowing you've lost an entire year's worth of memories to one annoying computer crash. Different features and fee structures are available at the various providers, so do your research—decide what type of storage you need and research cloud storage rankings for dependability.

2. Save them to Disc

Another efficient way of saving your digital memories is to burn them onto a disc. According to the International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material, CD-R discs made with phthalocynine dye are the ones that stand the test of time. They're less likely to exhibit laser rot and deterioration over time. The fact that the disc is a CD-R instead of a CD-RW, also means you can't accidently copy over the photos you have stored.

If you choose this method of storage, it's still a good idea to have a backup system in place. Even the best CDs deteriorate over time, so have an alternative storage method.

3. Use an External Hard Drive

Although external hard drives can be susceptible to viruses, they're a good back up to discs and to the regular hard drive on your PC. External hard drives hold a ton of photos without slowing things down and they're easy to retrieve when you need them. PC Magazine recommends the top five external hard drives, which include: 

•  LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt (1TB SSD) 

•  LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt (120GB SSD) 

•  Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 Secure Hard Drive 

•  Seagate Backup Plus 

•  Seagate Backup Plus Portable Drive for Mac (1TB) 

4. SD Card

SD Cards are the small memory sticks that go inside your camera before you leave on a photo expedition. These are a viable option for storing photos, except that they have a size limit and can fill up quickly if you're not cautious of your volume of large file sizes. These are also not foolproof for life, but they'll do until you have a chance to upload your memories to the cloud.

5. Combination Storage

Of all these options, cloud storage is the safest file storage method of hanging onto precious digital files. Be extra safe, however, by using a combination of storage solutions. With more than one dependable storage solutions in place, your cherished memories will be safe and secure for years to come.

SEE ALSO: Keeping Your Treasured Photos Safe

We’ve shared our ideas, now we want to ask you – how do you preserve your family memories and not lose them forever? Share them with us in a comment below!

*by andreascy*

What Does BYOD Mean for Me?

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

If you've been hearing a lot about 'Bring Your Own Device' programs lately, you may be wondering exactly what BYOD means to you. A BYOD policy - at least a well thought out one - is intended to protect company systems from potential security issues by creating policies that govern user devices while also improving employee morale and productivity.



You may be using your device for work-related purposes and not even realize it. Do you check your work email on your phone? It seems harmless enough, but according to NBC News, some companies are now even banning the reading of work emails on personal phones. BYOD is essential to controlling employee device use, but what does it mean for you?

Do You Remember the Last Time You Got a Virus?

Chances are you've had a virus on your computer at one point or another. The issues with BYOD operate on a related level. Personal devices - including smartphones, tablets and laptops - can all be weakened to security issues. Companies are concerned, because personal devices that have access to the company network may also expose the network to vulnerabilities. Android phones are particularly vulnerable, with 99 percent of all malware being targeted toward this platform according to Kaspersky lab.

What Does BYOD Do?

A BYOD program essentially controls which personal devices connect to the network. Most BYOD management platforms have granular security. Granular security controls different levels of security access. One person may have the permissions to access an entire network while other guest users may only be able to access very controlled regions. Companies such as BlackBerry have created mobile device management platforms for this reason, and users can consult BlackBerry for more information.

The Ability to Control Your Device

The major concern for employees when it comes to strict BYOD policies is that their company will now institute some level of control over their devices. Some companies can completely wipe their employee's devices if they suspect there has been an intrusion or even if the company and the employee separate. For employees that have personal information they want to keep safe on their phone, this can be very difficult to deal with. It is important you find out your company's policies before joining their BYOD program.

The Ability to Opt Out

It's important to note that most BYOD policies do allow individuals to opt out, such as the one outlined by the White House. Opting out usually means that an individual will be required to maintain both business and personal devices or that they may have to jump through more hoops to interact directly with a system. However, opting out is still an option for anyone who doesn't want to give up their privacy and doesn't want to run the risk of losing the data on their personal device. Note that an inability to afford a device should not be a reason for your company to make you opt out of the program. Inquire about possible device or data plan reimbursement if you're interested in participating.

Following Company Policy

Different companies will have different policies in regards to their BYOD programs. Some companies have a zero-tolerance policy, whereas other companies encourage users to perform some functions on their personal devices or at home. The best thing you can do is learn your company's policy and follow it. While BYOD policies may seem frustrating to deal with, they are there for a very important reason.

RECOMMENDED: Making BYOD Work For Your Company

Hope you find this article helpful! Feel free to reply with good things you've read this month, questions or comments.

*by andreascy*

The Future Landscape of Software Development

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

The advent of laptop computers marked an important milestone in the history of mobile computing. Laptops made it possible for people to bring their work with them almost everywhere they went. The evolution of Palm Pilot-style digital planners further fueled the trend and defined what it meant to "stay connected" while out in the field. However relevant or essential these products were, no technology changed the digital landscape more or pleased consumers as much as those wireless handheld devices put out by the now-famous technology giants BlackBerry and Apple.

Future technology trends are expected to continue to extend the nebulous bounds of the cloud, and further leverage the capacity and reach of the 4G mobile spectrum. Of course, the most impressive and stunning technology trends always seem to spring from unexpected places and are generally the most difficult for industry insiders to forecast.

The Future of Software

Current and emerging trends in the field of software development are being driven by new programming languages and platforms, new development methodologies, updates to core Internet technologies (HTML5), changes in customer expectations, and the unstoppable ascendancy of powerful new mobile computing devices.

Rapidly expanding demand for greater numbers of mobile computing devices has put pressure on software developers to create more mobile applications. Key stories circulating in the industry press seem to concentrate on a shift toward revamping familiar and standard software packages so that they run smoothly and easily on tablets and smartphones. Indeed, future launches of the most popular and time-honored business applications written for the PC are expected to become available for tablets and hybrids in the months ahead. 

More Programming Languages

It should surprise no one in the industry that coders are going to need to know more languages. Today, Java and Objective-C with a little jQuery thrown in account for most of the heavy lifting with respect to building complex software applications and mobile apps. The performance requirements of modern mobile computing devices will create a need for developers who are conversant in such languages as Ruby, Python, Node.js, and certain exotics such as Clojure and Haskell. No examination of this subject could be considered thorough or complete if it did not touch on HTML5 and CSS3, or if it ignored how cross-platform app design is greatly enhanced when developers are comfortable with the development and implementation of bespoke programming languages.

Customer Satisfaction is Paramount

New ways of thinking, along with an increased demand for multi-paradigm solutions are driving the accelerated rate of change in the development process itself. At present, Agile principles many not make one agile enough to satisfy today's consumer because customers today are no longer happy just being satisfied, they want to be delighted. According to Forbes, organizations such as Apple and Amazon have conclusively shown that delighting customers is a worthy, profitable part of the development process.

Finally, other future trends that software developers and engineers can look forward to hearing more about in the months to come include more current philosophies concerning version control systems, where most versions of a product will be staged in the cloud. Other trends to be aware of include the potential for removal of certain highly important open source products from the public domain. If this should occur, developers will need to brush up on alternative database solutions such as MariaDB, SQLite, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB.

ALSO OF INTEREST: What's The Big Deal With Software Bugs?

We hope this information has been helpful. 👍

*by andreascy*