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Mastering OS Updates: A Step-by-Step Guide for Windows & Mac

Mastering OS Updates: A Step-by-Step Guide for Windows & Mac

We rely on our devices and software everyday for practically everything. From staying in touch with family and friends to managing business operations, our lives revolve around technology. Unfortunately, this convenience also comes with risks, as cybercriminals are always looking for ways to exploit weaknesses in our software and devices. But there is a simple precaution to minimise these threats – regular updates. In this article, we will discuss why updating your device and software is crucial and how you can do so on both Windows and Apple devices.

Why Updating Matters

Imagine leaving your door unlocked – that’s what outdated software is like for your device, inviting cyber intruders. They exploit these gaps to steal your data or seize control. By updating, you equip your device with the latest armour – security patches, bug fixes, and speed boosts – defending against potential cyber dangers.

Updating Windows Devices

To update your Windows device, click:

If you want to install the update now, select Start  > Settings  > date & Security  > Windows Update , and then select Check for updates. If updates are available, install them.If updates are available, you can choose to install them.

Check for Windows Updates

Updating Apple Devices

For Apple devices, it’s equally easy. Visit Settings > General > Software Update. When an update is available, hit “Download and Install.” Turn on “Automatic Updates” to receive future armour without lifting a finger.

Updating Mac OS

Safekeeping Business Devices

In the business realm, there a number of proactive measures that can be taken to armour your devices and prevent cyber assaults. Schedule and automate updates to ensure consistency and minimise risk. Deploy up-to-date antivirus software and train your team to spot and report suspicious activity for added protection.

In a Nutshell

Keeping your device and software up to date is paramount in today’s tech-driven world. Regular updates are your virtual shield, fending off cyber threats and preserving your data’s sanctity. Whether Windows or Apple is your weapon of choice, automated updates make it so easy to stay secure. With our user-friendly guide, staying ahead in the cybersecurity game is simpler than you think.

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Get ready for the IE11 retirement. Switch to Microsoft Edge today

Get ready for the IE11 retirement. Switch to Microsoft Edge today

Microsoft has recently announced that it is permanently disabling Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) on certain versions of Windows 10 from February 14, 2023. This update will be rolling out to the Microsoft Edge Stable channel over the next week via a progressive rollout process.

Microsoft Edge Browser

The purpose of the update is to redirect users from IE11 to Microsoft Edge. Once the update is installed, users will be informed that IE has been retired and is no longer supported. Selecting “Continue” will start the redirection process from Internet Explorer 11 to Microsoft Edge. As part of the update, the Microsoft Edge icon will replace all IE icons in the start menu and taskbar.

What if I need IE for certain websites?

If any website you visit is incompatible with Microsoft Edge and requires IE, you can reload it with IE mode in Microsoft Edge once redirected. To enable IE mode, click the Ellipsis (three horizontal dots) in the top, right-hand corner of Microsoft Edge. Then select “Reload in Internet Explorer Mode” from the options.

Will I lose IE browser data such as favourites and passwords?

All data that was saved in your IE browser, including your favourites, history, cookies and passwords, will be brought over to Microsoft Edge so you can seamlessly continue browsing.

Preparing your Business for the Update

It is essential to prepare your business for this update by taking the necessary steps beforehand. In order to plan an effective transition strategy for this update, it is important to consider how your business uses IE11 and which websites need it to function.

Proactive steps to ensure that you are prepared

Ensure all staff members understand which sites they need to access and if any require training to help them become familiar with using Microsoft Edge as a substitute browser. Consider this update and its effects on your day-to-day operations. If you have already transitioned from IE11 to Microsoft Edge, the update will not impact you.

Will Legacy Applications continue to function?

Businesses that rely heavily on legacy applications should pay close attention as these applications may no longer work correctly after the upgrade if not properly configured in advance. If not checked prior to the update, there could be significant disruptions to the overall productivity of those affected. Special attention should also be on assessing whether or not these legacy applications need updating or replacing prior to implementing the update from Internet Explorer 11 to Microsoft Edge across your systems.

After over a decade, it is time to bid farewell to Internet Explorer 11. It is essential for IT managers and small business owners alike to take initiative-taking steps ahead of time to ensure a smooth transition away from IE11 and towards using Microsoft Edge. Proper planning and preparation will also ensure your business is equipped with the necessary tools and resources during this transition.

How to set up Internet Explorer

7 Must-Know Reasons Why Your Business Needs to Backup Microsoft 365 Data

7 Must-Know Reasons Why Your Business Needs to Backup Microsoft 365 Data

In today’s fast-paced digital world, your business data is the lifeblood of your business. Microsoft 365 (M365) is a powerful platform that provides a centralised location to store, manage and access this data, but relying solely on its built-in data protection features is not enough.

When it comes to data backup, many businesses make the mistake of assuming that Microsoft 365’s built-in data protection features are enough. However, relying solely on these features is not enough. Microsoft 365’s data protection is designed to provide basic protection against accidental deletion or corruption, but it does not provide comprehensive protection against all types of data loss scenarios. This is why it’s critical to have a robust backup strategy in place, one that covers all your bases and provides you with peace of mind.

Next, we explore 7 critical reasons why your business can’t afford to ignore Microsoft 365 data backup.

Data loss

Protection Against Data Loss

Backing up data your data is the best way to protect against accidental deletion, corruption or loss due to unforeseen events like software failures, hardware crashes or cyberattacks.

Regulations and Compliance

To Meet Regulatory Compliance and Standards

Certain industries have strict regulations that require businesses to maintain copies of their data. Businesses should backup data to ensure they meet their regulatory requirements, avoid legal or financial penalties and protect their reputation.

business Continuity

Securing Business Continuity

Disasters, outages, and cyberattacks can disrupt business operations, but having a robust backup plan in place can help organisations recover quickly and keep the business running, minimising downtime, and reducing the impact on the organisation and its customers.

Facilitating Data Recovery

Facilitating Data Recovery

In the event of data loss, having a backup allows organisations to quickly recover and restore their data much faster and more efficiently than recreating it from scratch. Being able to restore data reduces downtime and minimises business disruptions.

Saving Time

Saving Time and Money

Restoring data from a backup is typically faster and less expensive than recreating it from scratch. Additionally, by having a reliable backup system in place, businesses can avoid the costly expenses associated with paying a ransom to hackers in the event of a cyber-attack. This saves money and eliminates the need to negotiate with perpetrators and the risk of permanent data loss, which can be a lengthy and stressful process.

Peace of Mind

Providing Peace of Mind

Knowing that data is backed up gives organisations peace of mind, reducing the stress and anxiety associated with the possibility of data loss.

Enhancing Productivity

Enhancing Productivity

Implementing a reliable backup and recovery plan allows organisations to focus on their core business activities, rather than worrying about data loss. This can enhance productivity, improve efficiency and drive growth.

In conclusion, backing up your Microsoft 365 data and tenancy is a crucial aspect of protecting your business from data loss. From preventing data loss and meeting compliance requirements to enhancing productivity and providing peace of mind, a robust backup strategy is essential for any modern business. Don’t wait until it’s too late – take action today to ensure that your business is protected from data loss.

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Maximising ROI: How Managed IT Services Can Benefit Small Businesses

Maximising ROI: How Managed IT Services Can Benefit Small Businesses

Managed IT services have become increasingly popular among small businesses in recent years, and for good reason. Read on to discover the benefits of outsourcing IT Services to a Managed Service Provider (MSP).

MSPs provide a range of services that can help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations including:

• IT Support and Maintenance
• Cloud Services
• Network Management
• Data Backup and Recovery
• Security
• Compliance

By providing these services, MSPs provide their customers peace of mind and improve their ROI through increased efficiency, reduced costs, and increased overall competitiveness.

Our services will give you peace of mind

Cost savings

Instead of hiring a full-time IT employee, small businesses can outsource their IT needs to an MSP at a fraction of the cost. This can help small businesses keep their overhead costs low and increase their profitability. MSPs can also help small businesses identify and eliminate unnecessary IT expenses, such as software subscriptions or hardware that is no longer needed.

Increased efficiency

Managed IT services can also help small businesses increase their efficiency. MSPs can provide their clients with the latest technology and software, which can help them automate tasks and streamline processes, freeing up small business owners and employees to focus on more important tasks.

A professional MSP service will provide its customers with real-time monitoring and maintenance, which can help avoid downtime and keep operations running smoothly.

Improved security

Small enterprises are often the target of cyber-attacks, and MSPs can help protect them with advanced security solutions, such as firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems. MSPs can also assist with compliance and regulatory requirements that small businesses must adhere to.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about our Managed IT Services.

How to Protect Your Data in the Cloud

How to Protect Your Data in the Cloud

Before the pandemic, many businesses took measured steps to transition to cloud technology. The global pandemic forced many companies to make rapid changes to allow their employees to work from home. Although there were security implications associated with such drastic measures, it has resulted in massive gains in cybersecurity.

The cloud has revolutionised the way businesses store and manage data. Thanks to major vendors investing in top-tier security measures, businesses of all sizes can rely on a high level of protection for their confidential information, along with regular updates as more features are added daily.

Despite the advances in cybersecurity technology, businesses still experience security breaches. Often, these breaches can be avoided when the right policies and configurations are in place.

To ensure your business is adequately protected without breaking the bank, let’s look at a few simple yet effective measures that are included with Microsoft 365.

Microsoft 365

Use Microsoft 365 Business Premium

All Microsoft 365 plans include security features, but Premium provides far more features specifically designed for business environments.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

When every user is authenticated correctly, the risk of security breaches drastically decreases. Furthermore, this powerful security feature can be executed speedily, taking a few minutes per account.

The two most secure MFA methods include the Security key method (which involves using a separate security key that you can insert into a PC or mobile device to authenticate the login) and the use of an authentication app. If you use voice and SMS-based MFA please do so with caution. SMS and Voice MFA do not use encryption, making it easy for hackers to intercept them.

Data Security in the cloud

Admin Account Protection

No user should have admin rights on their primary account because even admins can make mistakes when checking email or casually browsing. Users should only have the access they need for the time they need it. Implement a limited access policy to cut the chances of any violations.

Disable Anonymous Sharing

Anonymous sharing is enabled by default, allowing you to share documents with anyone. Meaning, a document could accidentally get sent to the wrong person. By disabling this feature, you will have more control over where your business data is shared.

SharePoint

Monitor SharePoint for Changes and Access Events

SharePoint is a practical way to keep your team informed. You can receive alerts for suspicious activity and notifications when someone deletes more than five files or copies a large amount of data. This can help prevent data loss accidents as well as malicious acts.

Implement Device Policies and Management

Your workforce may use various devices to carry out tasks. Each device is a potential path into your protected environment, so it is essential to have strong policies in place. You can create policies that require complex passwords and insist that Windows updates are performed promptly. Endpoints are now the most prominent threat, so use the free device protection in your Microsoft Business Premium subscription to boost security.

Block Client Forwarding Rules

Enabling email forwarding might breach your workplace policies and also put your business at risk. Suppose a hacker managed to gain access to an account, they could forward emails to an address of their choice, allowing them access to leak sensitive business information and wreak havoc.

The importance of online data security

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Policies

In Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you can designate rules around your data, such as restricting certain document types from being emailed. You can use these rules to prevent sensitive information, such as credit cards, Medicare, and licence numbers, from being emailed, cutting a critical risk. If your business must share sensitive data, we recommend uploading documents to a secure file storage platform such as OneDrive or Google Drive and then generating a secure link to share with relevant individuals/teams.

Improve Your Microsoft Secure Score

Microsoft 365 includes a handy tool that evaluates your security posture and provides a score based on system configurations, user behaviour, and other measurements. In addition, the tool offers you a prioritised list of recommendations to support you in raising your security level.

Backup Your Cloud Data

A common misconception is that someone, somewhere, is backing everything up for you in the cloud, but that isn’t entirely true. Understand what your data loss acceptance level looks like and find a data backup solution you are satisfied with.

The best online data security protection is prevention through training

Training

Regarding cybersecurity, it is no surprise that human error is the most common cause of security breaches. Regardless of all the possible precautions you take to minimise the risk of cybercrime, all it can take is a link click, download, missed update or misconfiguration to lead to a big problem.

The best way to avoid human error is to enforce cyber security guidelines and provide online and in-person training and testing.

Testing should include a targeted phishing campaign to see who clicks – this can help you to identify who requires training.

As part of any cyber security audit, we look at physical security; you’d be surprised how many people still put their password on a post-it note by their monitor and how many visitors are left unsupervised around sensitive information!

Most of the actions in this post require little or no help to set up and will immediately reduce your risk of a breach. While it is worth investing in a cyber security review and the assistance of a data security specialist, there is plenty that you can do yourself to become less of a target to hackers.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about data protection.

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Technologies that will shape our world in 2023 and beyond

Technologies that will shape our world in 2023 and beyond

We are already using smart algorithms every time we search the internet, shop online, navigate as we travel, choose how we entertain ourselves, and conduct countless tasks. But what will the next few years bring? According to many experts, we are on the cusp of a new era in computing, one that will be defined by immersive digital worlds and blockchain technology. Here is what you need to know about the hyper-connected, intelligent world of 2023 and beyond…

What is the Metaverse?

Some futurists believe that by the end of 2023, we will all be spending a significant amount of time in digital worlds that are so realistic, they are indistinguishable from reality. These “metaverses” will be built on blockchain technology and will allow us to digitally recreate anything in the physical world. For example, you could attend a virtual concert featuring your favourite band, explore an exotic vacation destination, or play a virtual reality game with friends from around the world. And because metaverses will be built on blockchain technology, they will be incredibly secure and resistant to hacks and cybercrime.

The Hyper-Connected World

As metaverses become more popular, our physical world will become increasingly connected to the digital world. This “hyper-connectivity” will enable new types of interactions and experiences that are not possible in the physical world. For example, you may be able to purchase products and services with a simple voice command or receive real-time updates about the status of your delivery without having to track it yourself. And thanks to advances in artificial intelligence (AI), many of these interactions will be carried out by digital assistants who will always be available to help us with our needs.
The future of technology

A Sustainable Future

As we become more reliant on technology, it is essential that this reliance is sustainable. Fortunately, many of the technologies that will shape our future are environmentally friendly. A good example of environmentally friendly technology is 5G networks. 5G networks deliver high-speed internet to our mobile devices and use less energy than current 4G networks. Additionally, solar energy is becoming more cost-effective as technology improves its efficiency and storage capacity. As a result, it is likely that we will see an increase in solar-powered homes and businesses in the coming years.
The future is looking pretty bright—and pretty tech-savvy! It is important to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to emerging technologies so that you can make the most of their benefits. Whether it is getting ready for the metaverse or ensuring that your business is using sustainable technology, keeping up with the latest trends will help you stay ahead of the competition. Subscribe to KeyTech’s monthly mailing list to stay informed of the latest technology trends.

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