Leadingit newsletter april 2018 online

NEXT Generation Technology Support

April 2018

IS YOUR IT PROVIDER KEEPING UP? OR CONSTANTLY DROWNING? WHY INCLUSION MATTERS IN THE WORKPLACE MEET THE TEAM: JEFF COMBS TECH TIP OF THE WEEK:

CYBERSECURITY 19 WAYS TO LIVE WELL AND SANELY IN CRAZY TIMES 4 WAYS TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND INCREASE YOUR PROFITABILITY AT THE SAME TIME.

GoLeadingIT.com

(815) 496-6300

IS YOUR IT PROVIDER KEEPING UP? OR CONSTANTLY DROWNING? You've heard it before, the only constant in technology is change.

Cybercrime damages cost more than $3 trillion in 2015, representing the greatest transfer of economic wealth in history.

THE HEADLINES HAVE BEEN LITTERED WITH SUCH NEWS ON DATA BREACHES, HACKS AND ATTACKS. IT'S CRAZY! BUT BEFORE YOU THINK "NOT ME". MOST ATTACKS ARE HAPPENING TO SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE US, 43% OF ATTACKS ARE TARGETING SMALL BUSINESSES.

Ask yourself these questions about your current IT provider: • Do they continue to make recommendations for new hardware and upgrades?

We've seen it first hand - the barrage of ransomware ruining company data, phishing emails crafted to steal credentials, and social engineering designed to extort money.

• Do they bring new features and services to protect your company and educate your teams?

Is your IT provider keeping up with all of this?

• Are they educating you and your team to what threats are happening currently?

At LeadingIT, we are constantly embracing change ever since our start in 2010. Not only have we grown from zero employees and zero clients to now a team of 13 supporting more than 2500 end users every day. We've changed from fix anything computer repair shop to only working with organizations on an ALL-inclusive monthly basis. And we are ADAPTING as the technology and security landscape changes sometimes daily. Sometimes it feels like we are more of a security company than we do tech support.

Why Inclusion Matters In The Workplace For companies that want to survive in the modern marketplace, diversity is more than a buzzword – it’s a fundamental ethos that is key to real success. In order for innovation to happen, dozens of perspectives and worldviews need to be represented in your workplace. But what does that inclusion actually look like? One thing is for sure: It must go beyond written policies and initiatives. Instead of giving lip service to an abstract concept, inclusiveness must exist in the daily actions and behaviors of your entire organization.

• Are they making you aware of importance of security measures and the threats in cybersecurity?

If not - it may be a sign that they aren't adapting to this constant rate of change in technology and security. Stay safe and secure out there!

LEADINGIT CULTURE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Mike Alfus

Josh Laemont

Apr 20 - Happy Birthday!

Apr 28 - Happy Birthday!

Meet the Team: Jeff Combs

TECH TIPS OF THE WEEK: CYBERSECURITY

Jeff does whatever it takes to get the job done, even piggie back rides

I WAS BORN IN… Here in Woodstock WHAT DO YOU DO AT LEADINGIT? Benchwork and On-site. I set computers up and deliver them and set them up on-site. I also assist in delivering servers and networking equipment, and doing physical setup on-site.

DESCRIBE LEADING IT IN THREE WORDS… Fun. Crazy. Productive.

IF YOU KNOW ME YOU KNOW… I take very little seriously.

WHAT WOULD YOUR SUPERPOWER BE? Super speed.

WHERE WOULD YOU BE FOUND 4PM ON A SATURDAY?

We are seeing a massive influx of EMAIL campaigns oriented to steal your credentials, your company data, or worse company MONEY. We have seen attempts at wire transfer fraud in which spoofers ask for tens of thousands of dollars to be transferred.

We have also seen phishing for credentials on the up rise.

Think of this as someone trying to break into your car with your purse or wallet sitting on the front seat. You may have your phone and wallet stolen, then your entire identity. It is very possible this could happen to every one of us. Education is key for prevention.

We’re carefully adjusting filters and doing what we can from a technology perspective, but educating your staff on what to look for is equally, if not more important. Filters are useful but never will be 100% effective. We try to balance the effectiveness of the filter while at the same time not inhibiting workflow and communication, where filters can become too restrictive and might toss out important emails & information.

Unfortunately, email is an insecure method of communication.

Anyone can pretend to be someone else – this is called spoofing.

Most likely napping on a couch.

The bad guys are constantly trying to get information out of all of us – this is called phishing.

IF YOU WERE A DRINK, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?

Here are some tips on how to avoid these issues:

Whiskey neat.

TECH TIP YOU WISH EVERYONE KNEW? Reboots resolve many issues.

WHY DO IT GUYS GET A BAD REP? People are calling in for our help typically are already a little stressed, so patience can be tested early into resolving an issue.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? Music.

• Double check for spelling errors as they can key you in to a malicious email • Check the URL and the links for unusual sites or just DON'T click • Verify via phone or another method with the sender of the email • If you’re not sure, just bring it to OUR attention

19 WAYS TO LIVE WELL AND SANELY IN CRAZY TIMES THERE’S NO DISCOUNTING THE FACT THAT WE’RE LIVING THROUGH SOME CRAZY TIMES. WITH POLITICAL UPHEAVALS, GAME-CHANGING SOCIAL MEDIA MOVEMENTS AND CHAOTIC WORLD EVENTS, THERE’S A LOT GOING ON. WRITTEN BY MARK SANBORN

I’m not about to overlook the tremendous opportunities that exist these days, but with spring cleaning right around the corner, I’ve been focusing on this question: How can we live well in these crazy times?

8. Limit your news intake. Being saturated with more of the same, day in and day out, can be fatiguing and frustrating. Be informed, but not inundated.

1. Don’t add to the craziness. Be civil to those with whom you disagree. Balance your heart and your head so emotions don’t outweigh reason.

10. Have deeper conversations with friends. Go beyond, “How’s it going?” to “What are you thinking?” Move past the superficial and really connect.

2. Separate fact from opinion. Don’t get excited about things that either aren’t true or are wildly exaggerated to get attention.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts.”

11. Take a trip. The best way to enlarge your perspective is to travel abroad. But if you can’t, for whatever reason, visit a new state or spend time in a museum.

3. Act with integrity even when others don’t. Just because others are behaving badly doesn’t mean you should too.

13. Be kind.

9. Exercise. It’s as simple as that.

12. Be civil.

4. Slow down. The longer I live, the more convinced I am that you accomplish more of real importance by slowing down.

Speed is necessary at times, but make sure you’renot chasing rabbits when you could betracking the big game.

14. Count your blessings every day. To be precise, list at least three. No matter how bad it gets, there are always things to be thankful for.

5. Eat slower. A friend’s father-in-law was a doctor, and when asked what was the most important thing a person could do to improve their health, he said “Chew more.”

16. Invest more in experiences and less in stuff.

6. Get enough sleep. Lack of sufficient sleep is a major influence on poor health, both mentally and physically.

7. Read for education and entertainment. The best novels aren’t just engaging, they teach us something about the world and about ourselves. In addition, read about current events and personal development to keep well-rounded.

15. Spend less than you make.

17. Live intentionally. Be specific about what you want to accomplish each day. Don’t sleepwalk through your life.

18. If you can’t take action to deal with something, don’t worry about it. And if you can, then do it and stop worrying!

19. Tell people you love that you love them. You’ll rarely regret telling someone that you love them, especially when you no longer have the chance to do so.

4 WAYS TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND INCREASE YOUR PROFITABILITY AT THE SAME TIME 1 Host an event. In B2B companies and small businesses that have a highly specific and local customer base, a big appreciation event can go a long way. Just make sure to view attendees as friends rather than customers you’re trying to close on.

2 Personalize your services. If you’re able to tailor your offerings to your customers’ desires, that extra effort can really impress the people you serve. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Get creative and add that little bit of human touch to your product.

3 Send handwritten notes. E-mails, social media and phone calls are great, but if you want a thank-you card or customer appreciation note to stand out, it’s best to write them by hand.

4 Launch a loyalty program. These programs can increase profits for you and your business, but they’ll also have the benefit of making your most loyal customers feel engaged and appreciated.