The Ntiva Tech Corner

Keeping a business protected from cyber attacks is one of the most pressing issues of 2020. But can you afford the level of security that you need? You might be surprised to learn that most organizations who are looking for IT support in Chicago...

When it comes to selecting a data management tool, there's no shortage of platforms to choose from. Since the inception of the cloud in 2006, we've watched this market boom, with arguably the most popular platforms coming from Microsoft.

Our office kitchen just got a fancy new coffee machine. It’s an impressive thing with a snazzy color display and can make you a dozen different types of drinks. We now have TWO machines and folks love it - we go through coffee pods like crazy!

Almost every business has some level of regulations to comply with. If your business depends on tech in any way - and we all do - you're probably subject to regulatory compliance issues. 

It’s hard enough for businesses to stay secure nowadays, and that task is even more daunting now that we rely so heavily on mobile devices. There's a ton of great advice out there, but we've narrowed it down to the 6 top things you should do to...

There’s a big change coming for government contractors who provide goods and services to the U.S. Department of Defense. Beginning in 2020, contractors will be required to comply with the recently announced Cybersecurity Maturity Model...

Across all industries, the regulatory landscape is evolving at a rapid pace. With the ever-expanding ways personal data is being used, following your industry’s required compliance level is more important than ever.

As the work from home trend grows, many businesses require secure remote access to corporate apps and services for their distributed employees. But which remote access solution is best for your business? 

Welcome to 2020 and a new round of cyber threats and warnings! It’s easy for businesses to get overwhelmed when it comes to figuring out what they need for adequate cyber security protection. We recommend that the very first thing you do is a ...

Almost every business you can think of is using cloud services for many of their critical business applications. We're all familiar with Google G-Suite, Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, Dropbox, Adobe, HubSpot, QuickBooks...and the list goes on! 

More than 800 million devices run on Windows. The original kingpin of operating systems (OS) is still going strong, even with more and better competition.

This morning most of us woke up and followed a very similar routine, grabbing our mobile phone, tablet, and/or laptop as we headed out the door to work. Who owns those mobile devices - you, your company, or a bit of both?

Microsoft Office 365 is unique in terms of information security. As the productivity platform where your team gets most of their work done, it represents a trove of data that attackers would be happy to get their hands on. Here are 5 best...

Most small-to-medium sized businesses rely on a relatively small IT team to keep their tech up and running. Typically, these employees know the ins and outs of every piece of the network. This makes it especially difficult when one of them leaves...

Every organization that manages or handles digital data is at risk of a cyber attack. And without cyber insurance, that risk could potentially put an end to their business. Are you adequately covered?

Just about every week this year we’ve seen a news report about a city, corporation, hospital, or school system suffering a ransomware attack that brought operations to a halt.

Small business owners are constantly reminded of the daunting challenge to protect their data – including data of their employees, customers, and partners – from online hackers and scammers. The challenge is real and complex, but by focusing on...

When Microsoft Outlook slows to a crawl, one of the first things many people consider is turning on email archiving in order to improve performance. But what's the best way to archive your Outlook email?

Law firms come in all shapes and sizes. From corporate to family law, legal practices vary in almost every area, but they all handle confidential client data - and that data must be protected!

The first class of interns at the Ntiva Service Desk Academy at WVU-Parkersburg have officially started, preparing four WVU-P students for a successful career in the IT industry.

Finding the right IT consultant for your organization can be a tedious process. Read below for the 5 key things you should consider when looking for IT consulting services!

All businesses want to run a tight ship. You want to make sure there are just enough employees to keep things running smoothly, without having to deal with the struggles of over-staffing. But your IT department is an area that is critically...

A virtual CIO, also referred to as a fractional CIO, is a dedicated resource who serves as a Chief Information Officer on a flexible basis. Their primary role is to formulate strategic IT goals for your company, and then manage an IT strategy and...

There has been a lot of confusion around NIST compliance, now mandatory for federal contractors. This brief overview should provide you with the information to understand what is required and why you should be complying (including the need to get...

For most, remote work may be the best thing to ever happen to the corporate world. It allows for schedule flexibility and easier communication. However, remote work also requires diligence from the employee.

Remember the days when Yahoo! was considered a tech giant? The company, founded in 1994, was once valued at over $100 billion, but sold to Verizon for a measly $4.48 billion in 2017. How did this valuation sink so low? Easy. Stolen passwords.

If you’re a government contractor, you know that staying on top of federal government compliance such as NIST SP 800-171 - and now CMMC - is an absolute necessity. But it can also be a burden to your organization, especially if you don't have the...

Another day, another organization brought to it's knees by ransomware. What can you do to protect your business from this type of devastation?

As we continue to see crippling data breaches, new regulations like GDPR and California's Consumer Privacy Act will only become more common. But is maintaining compliance to current regulatory laws enough to protect your business from...

Parkersburg, West Virginia is probably not a place many think of when it comes to tech jobs. Ntiva, a Washington, DC-based IT Services Provider, hopes to change that.

The first telltale sign that outdated technology is killing your business – or if not killing it, at least stalling it – is the lack of business. You’re no longer growing, and your competition is surpassing you.

We love talking to our clients every day. From prospective buyers to the users that have been with us since the very beginning, they all have questions. This week, we’ve compiled the most frequent questions we receive in one place.

Every business wants to save money wherever it can. For some, outsourcing IT services - also known as Managed IT Services - can have a huge benefit on the bottom line. For others, it offers strategic expertise they would not otherwise have access...

This past weekend the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned American businesses that Iran is stepping up its attacks on corporate targets here in the U.S. The new rise in malicious activity is alleged to be part of Iran’s response to...

Consumer preferences for communication have come to affect both internal and external business communications. Simple desk phones and legacy telephony systems aren’t enough to maximize workforce productivity or sustain great customer experiences.

Every person is unique. We all have our own likes, our own quirks, and our own unsecure devices.

The right technology can play a significant role in helping you grow your business, increase revenues and outperform the competition. This article will explain the details behind this, using a business technology pyramid to outline all the...

You’re texting your boss. The district manager pings you on Slack. Meanwhile, you get a Facebook message from your co-worker down the hall. There are simply too many collaboration platforms out there that employees can jump on, and most of them...

IT services are being outsourced by organizations of all sizes in every industry. From healthcare to accounting, businesses of all varieties are finding benefits in outsourced IT services. Learn why this trend is growing in leaps and bounds!

Most people think of Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive as pure cloud storage, but these platforms also offer features that make day-to-day collaboration between employees much easier. Read on to learn the details and which cloud platform is...

Most businesses have made the shift to the cloud for popular enterprise applications, but you'd be surprised by how many have not! Here are 3 applications where it definitely makes sense to move from buying and maintaining the on-premise software...

In the professional world everyone uses email, and its usually Outlook. It’s a handy tool, but many of us are now inundated with more emails than we can read. How do we tame this monster and reach INBOX ZERO?

Office 365 is the cloud-based offering from Microsoft containing all of the productivity software we’ve all come to know and love.

People like what they like, and it can be hard to change their mind. Some see Windows 10 as the pinnacle of Microsoft’s efforts, others see it and groan, longing for anything else.

Work-life balance has become a hot topic, thanks in part to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) work policies, and the mobile devices that keep us digitally tied to the office 24/7.

Humans love to be comfortable. We'll always choose convenience over anything else! But when it comes to your cyber security environment, complacency can mean big problems. 

Is your entire business relying on a couple of passwords and outdated anti-virus software to keep you safe? Not good! Learn why companies are turning to Security as a Service to protect their business data.

A Managed Service Provider (MSP) is an IT services company that assumes complete responsibility for the proactive support of a businesses IT environment. From small printer hiccups to major, enterprise-level IT planning and execution, leading...

Microsoft Office 365 offers a vast improvement over the local Office suite installations of years past. We’re here to dig into some hidden gems that have recharged the once-bland Microsoft Office with an exciting array of new features!

We know that topics such as data backup are not the most exciting. But think of it this way. When your Internet goes down for an hour or two and you can't access your data, what happens to your office? 

Every business owner worries about cyber security and with good reason. Breaches are becoming far more common and way more sophisticated. In this article we explore the top 4 reasons why businesses are choosing to outsource their security needs...

Desktop as a Service (DaaS) has become a hot topic for businesses in many industries, especially those concerned with security, data privacy and compliance.

Is your IT team having a hard time just keeping up with day-to-day IT support? Check out why successful IT executives chose to outsource part or all of their IT needs to a Managed Service Provider!

We've all received those emails from a Nigerian prince who will gladly give you $10,000 if you just help him complete a quick wire transfer. This old trick has been so played out, we're all smart enough to avoid it.

Passwords are meant to protect your valuable business information from hackers, but unfortunately you can no longer rely on passwords alone!

It's hard for businesses to keep up with changing regulatory requirements, and as a leading IT consulting company we know that many of our clients struggle with priorities. But ignoring security basics that are outlined by these regulations is...

It’s interesting to see all the tech trends predicted for 2019 - good article here if you’re interested – but to kick off the new year I thought I’d take a different tack and share some pragmatic business advice.

Growing a business is hard! All you really want to do is focus on your clients, not the myriad of other challenges. Here’s an example of how IT consulting services helped this business rocket to the top.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is quickly changing our world, both personal and business. For those who don't know - IoT literally means taking all the things in the world and connecting them to the Internet, increasing the amount of data we store,...

During the holiday season, employees tend to do more “multi-tasking” – i.e. online shopping when at work. Which in the scheme of things should be no big deal.

You might not think that cyber security and attracting new clients go hand in hand, but as it turns out there’s a very strong correlation between the two.

Everyone knows that downtime is not good for business, but what does “not good” mean to the bottom line?

On October 18th I attended a day-long workshop on the Department of Defense’s standards for information security. It was a great session, and if I had to summarize the event in one phrase it would be: tough love.

For most businesses, outsourcing part of their IT needs to a managed service provider (MSP) can help reduce cost, increase efficiency, improve security, minimize compliant risks, and ensure access to the right skills and technologies.

A small association in Arlington, Virginia was struggling to figure out how to successfully host their annual fundraising event without utilizing the bulk of their staff, which was terribly inefficient and slowed down other important initiatives.

Many organizations are doing more with and spending more on technologies -- from business intelligence and demand forecast to marketing, customer support, and logistics.

Even though most cyber attacks that make the news are against large organizations, it doesn't mean small- or medium-sized businesses are immune:

Major storms can cause major disruptions in your business, especially when it comes to your IT infrastructure. While you ready your home for a hurricane, take the time to ready your business as well.

Has your business invested in Microsoft Office 365? Good move! It’s a great cloud-based platform for business communication and collaboration, including its comprehensive email capabilities.

For most organizations, the biggest cyber security threat isn't an issue of having the latest and most sophisticated technologies.

Staying connected when you travel is now a necessity rather than a preference. Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, one of the first things you probably ask is,  "Does the hotel have Wi-Fi?" 

There are many advantages to using a Managed Services Provider (MSP) to help maintain your IT infrastructure, starting with expert IT services and support that can be delivered around the clock, 365 days a year. No vacation or sick days to...

If you're on the fence about migrating to the cloud, you may be weighing many pros and cons. One of the biggest consideration is the ROI of doing so, which largely hinges on the question -- will cloud computing increase employee productivity?

Google is clamping down on websites that are not secure, starting with the next release of the Chrome web browser targeted for July 2018. Here's why this change could significantly affect your website traffic, and how to make sure your website is...

It's important to protect your business data (we're all about that!) but don't forget about your personal data.

Having a phone system may sound quaint in this day and age of social media, messengers, live chat, email, smartphones, Slack, Trello, etc. However, sometimes there's nothing like picking up the phone and having a one-to-one conversation with your...

The healthcare industry has seen a skyrocketing number of data breaches in the past few years.

Just five measures can stop up to 85% of the most common cyber attacks, according to the Center for Internet Security  "First 5" . Read on to get the details!

As a business owner, commercial or nonprofit, you have a lot on your plate. However, one the biggest challenges is staying on budget when it comes to technology spend. Here are 5 things you can do to tighten your belt!

In the past few years, higher education institutions have been frequently targeted by cyber criminals:

In today's connected world, IT is the backbone of any successful business operation.

If you use Google Drive, upload images to social media, or track your workouts on mobile apps, you're using cloud services.

A lot of effort goes into hiring the best possible talent for your organization, but how much do you invest in retaining that talent?

In today's business environment, having your IT infrastructure in tip-top shape is no longer an option if you want to minimize downtime and provide the optimal customer experience to stay competitive.

Tax Day came and went with a bang this year when the IRS computer system meltdown halted the processing of millions of returns. Here’s what happened and what you can do to avoid a similar situation.

Earlier this quarter Verizon released an analysis of more than 1,300 security incidents involving the healthcare industry. While the growing number of breaches is concerning, I found the results of this study encouraging and here's why.

IT downtime is no joke.

Did you know that downtime can cost businesses up to an average of $9,000 per minute?  

And did you know that increasing uptime from 99.9% to 99.99% could save the average organization about $350,000 per month?

The growing sophistication and determination of hackers, combined with a lack of in-house cyber security expertise, is driving many businesses to outsource their security needs to a third party.

The “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) trend has helped many businesses increase productivity while lowering cost and increasing efficiency. But it's also brought security risks - here are 4 good ways to improve your security game!

Some of you may remember when IT departments had the ability to fully control almost all technology decisions, and who was allowed to use what.

Office 365 is an indispensable tool for many businesses. But here's what you need to know when it comes to protecting your Office 365 data!

Data breaches hit a record high in 2017, and the names of some pretty big financial services firms were splashed across the headlines. But don't kid yourself - its actually the smaller companies who are more at risk. 

Traditional business phone systems, such as the on-premises PBX, existed largely in isolation from IT systems. But the worlds of telecom and IT have converged...

How do you go from interchangeable to invaluable - when everyone else offers the same thing that you do?

Do you have a business that has peaks and valleys throughout the year? Learn how we shaved off $4k a month in technology costs for a business who were paying year round for services they weren't using!

Facebook is changing how it ranks posts, videos and photos that appear in your News Feed, putting friends and family first – and public content (e.g. your business posts) second.

Starting a company is hard, but growing that company into a successful, scalable enterprise is even harder. Our CEO weighs in on the most important factors for growing a successful business in 2018.

Hardly a week goes by where we don't hear about yet another company admitting to a data breach. A password alone is no longer enough to protect your online accounts against hackers! 

No question about it, donors are a nonprofit’s greatest asset. The last thing you want to worry about is the potential of your donor’s personal information being stolen or compromised.

According to Spiceworks’ 2018 State of IT report, close to half of companies surveyed expect their IT budgets to increase in 2018, by an average of about 19%...

Last year, Microsoft launched Microsoft Teams, the new chat-based workspace that competes against products such as Slack...

You’ve probably seen recent news reports about the "KRACK" vulnerability in wireless networks used in homes and businesses worldwide...

Vendors such as Dell, HP and Lenovo will no longer be selling PCs that support Windows 7 or 8.  This means that when you purchase new PCs for your office, they will arrive with new Intel processors that ONLY support Windows 10. Read on to see how...

Imagine if you came into the office and all your PCs and servers were completely down. How quickly do you think you could get your business back up and running? How smoothly would that process go?

We know what you’re thinking.

Why should you pay more for a “business class” laptop or desktop when you can get a consumer model for less from Best Buy, Staples or Amazon?

All businesses have challenges when it comes to managing their IT budget, but non-profits and associations are dealing with even tighter constraints. Here's how we helped this non-profit refresh their technology strategy and save dollars along...

With all the media attention as of late on security breaches, one of the top concerns we’re hearing from our client’s is the protection of sensitive data. Here's a solution that can automatically protect employees from accidentally compromising...

Unless you live in a cave, you know by now that Apple has announced the new iPhone 8 and iPhone X. And despite the cost, you can be sure a bunch of your employees are already on the wait list to get one. But it should also make you stop and think...

It's all over the news - Equifax suffered a massive data breach which compromised the personal information of as many as 143 million Americans. Here's the top 5 things you should do immediately:

Unfortunately, it often takes media-worthy incidents such as major hurricanes, floods and fires to convince businesses that in today's world, they absolutely need a robust business continuity and disaster recovery (BC/DR) program in place.

Research shows that employees who are untrained on cyber security best practices often constitute the greatest threat to the very organizations they work for. 

As you’ve likely heard by now, Microsoft has announced “end of life” for Office 2007 in October 2017.  Are you at risk if you continue to use it? The short answer is yes, and here’s why.

Are you tired of trying to remember complex passwords? Fed up with having to change those same esoteric passwords on a frequent basis? Have you “cheated” by using the same easy password (like, your dog’s name or “password”) across, well,...

All of us still rely heavily on email for business communications, both internally and externally. Unfortunately, the number one way hackers get into your company is through email, and every day the number of new viruses and malware is...

The conventional method of teaching children hasn’t changed much since the 18^th century – classrooms, hierarchical groups by year, and a standardized timetable and curriculum. And yet, out of the 1.5 billion schoolchildren around the world, most...

What do you do when your Managed Services Provider turns into a Managed Services Problem? 

Most small and medium businesses (SMBs) do not have IT departments, and SMBs make up over 90% of businesses in the United States. Therefore, most businesses do not have at least one full-time, dedicated employee who manages the computers,...

Increasing productivity in the office can be a complex beast – after all, there are humans involved – but the right technology can help! 

All businesses are looking for growth, and technology is one of the key areas that can significantly boost performance. One of the most notable trends has been the focus on cloud computing - but is it right for you?

Despite the best efforts of in-house IT staff, sometimes it’s hard to keep up. Often the most fundamental aspects of keeping your IT infrastructure up and running can bog you down, forcing you to put strategic projects on the back burner.

Do you collect data on European citizens? If yes, there have been a lot of changes in the last 12 months that you should be aware of, including the announcement of the General Data Protection Regulation.

The topic of business continuity planning has been much on my mind lately. I’ve had several clients ask about it or begin the process,so I’ve been digging deep into information security frameworks that require BC/DR plans - an important part of...

Most businesses today rely heavily on email communication. Unfortunately, the number one way hackers get into your company is through employee email, and every day the number of new viruses and malware is increasing. To avoid falling victim to...

Here's how 90% of the business networks I've seen have been built. Tell me if this sounds like you! You started with a fairly small, unsophisticated network. You probably had a single server, maybe even a workstation that was utilized as a...

In IT there are a lot of Industry terms that aren't well defined. Your IT service provider may supply you with a technician and use terms ranging from Engineer, Field Engineer, Technician, and SysAdmin. A SysAdmin, or Systems Administrator, is...

Your data center can be considered one of the most important aspects of your IT environment. If you maintain your own data center, read on for some key tips on keeping it in tip top shape!

Today, more businesses than ever are moving their company data to the cloud – and there are good reasons for this. Besides delivering significant cost savings, cloud solutions can stabilize your business operations as well as facilitate scale....

Phishing—It’s not just about investment opportunities in Nigeria anymore! 

 BIA is a fancy term for a process for determining what is important for your business, and what the consequences to your business would be if it is lost/destroyed. This need not be solely electronic resources.  If a retail store loses its...

Imagine for a moment you are suddenly inspired to build a new home...

We are aware of the initial thoughts that run through the minds of business owners, which pertain to the skepticism of procuring ongoing network maintenance services when everything seems fine as it is. And there are seemingly more important...

Eventually, there comes a time when it is more practical to get a new computer than to keep your aging PC. So, when the time comes for you to upgrade your computer, make sure you never just throw it out! Here are some tips on what to do before...

Today, many business organizations permit the use of employees' personal devices such as smartphones or tablets in the workplace. The ownership of such devices is now the norm and the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) practice is a growing demand....

Cloud computing is known as a method of utilizing a network of remote servers that are accessible via an Internet connection to process, manage and store data. Cloud collaboration enables more than one employee in the same company to work...

Microsfot Windows 10 has a number of features which make it distinct from its predecessors and one area in particular where it has shown improvement is in IT security. The importance of security cannot be overstated for modern businesses,...

IT is constantly evolving, and it can be challenging for smaller businesses to remain updated with the newest technology.  One way for businesses to stay relevant with IT is through the usage of managed IT services.

The 21st century is no stranger to major technological advancements that rock the world. Today, a phone is not only considered as a telephone, but a mini-computer and personal assistant combined into a single device! Today, affordable and...

The quality of the IT personnel you hire for your company can make the difference between success and failure. One reason for this is because hiring employees is expensive, but hiring the wrong employees is even more so. When you recruit the...

With cloud technology being relatively new to most users, there’s often a lack of experience that hinders proper cloud deployment. Even with a lot of prior research, you still have a lot of room for error, as each network is going to be designed...

Managed IT services involve the proactive handling of IT assets. The asset will typically be managed by Managed Service Providers (MSPs). They manage IT assets for their customer, and unlike reactive IT programs which have been around for years,...

A poorly managed IT infrastructure is a pain for any business to fix. If this is giving you a headache you can’t shake off, you should get managed IT services to help you sort out certain IT support tasks while you focus on your core business. If...

PCI Data Security Standard, often referred to as PCI DDS, is a combination of rules and regulations that help prevent unwarranted access to sensitive customer payment data. A lot of businesses think that simply being PCI compliant is all the...

The launch of Windows 10 is a little different from its predecessors, mainly due to the fact that it is released as a free update to current Windows 7 and 8.1 users. As a result, there are a lot more users installing the new OS shortly after its...

There are several different areas you should look at when choosing an IT partner or vendor, and avoiding these can result in a rocky relationship with the IT firm you choose. With the way the technology industry is ever-changing, it is very...

CNBC Article

July 8th was not a great day for United Airlines, Wall Street Journal, or the New York Stock Exchange. Although the root cause of the NYSE outage has not been identified, NYSE is stating that it was not an outside threat, but an...

As more and more people become concerned about the environment, consumers are demanding that businesses change their current practices.  From changing light bulbs to using recycled paper, businesses are starting to adapt to this new...

The latest version of Microsoft’s operating system, Windows 10, comes with an array of refinements and advancements that are sure to make working on your PC or Windows Phone easier and more efficient. Claiming to be "the most personal Windows...

One of the biggest advancements in the world of IT is cloud computing. You may think you do not know much about the cloud, but in reality you have probably been exposed to it in one way or another.  Services like DropBox and Office 365 are common...