Posted on: January 24th, 2012 by DPhayre
The benefits of storing information in the cloud are numerous. Offsite data backups, creating more space on your servers, and having your information easily available to your staff are just a few. If you have been looking into this route, you probably have many questions about cloud computing and security. If your company deals with sensitive information that belongs to your customers you may need to stay compliant with HIPAA, PCI or Sarbanes-Oxley regulations.
Does your cloud storage solution meet the following requirements? If your cloud computing provider doesn’t indicate it in their privacy policies, it’s not easy to tell. Let’s explore this further below.
Compliance
Cloud computing and security issues have become an important topic recently, as more and more companies turn to online storage solutions, seeking greater simplicity, scalability and affordability. Yet the cost in both money and reputation for improper handling of customer data can be extremely high indeed. If your business is required to comply to key regulations associated with patient privacy (HIPAA), credit card security (PCI) or the finance-sector strictures of Sarbanes-Oxley, it can be hard to find out if a service complies with these important restrictions.
Who is responsible
Whose responsibility is the security of the cloud? It’s not currently required that cloud computing providers be specific about their compliance with these regulations. The safest option is to assume that if they haven’t clearly stated that they’re in compliance in their privacy policy, they are not. If this is a concern for your business, this may mean that cloud computing is not for you. However, if your business doesn’t require tight regulations, then the advantages of cloud computing could be an excellent solution for you.
In the end, as cloud computing providers are not required by law to be transparent regarding their security, the responsibility rests in your hands. If you choose to use the cloud computing for secure, offsite data backup services, it’s your responsibility to choose a service provider you trust. Weigh the pros and cons and make the best decision for your business.
Posted on: January 6th, 2012 by NetEffect
The NVCPA and NetEffect, a Las Vegas based provider of IT services and cloud computing, have entered into an affinity partnership that provides all NVCPA members with significant discounts, specifically on their cloud computing platform, MyGrid Anywhere Computing.
For many accounting firms, the burden of running an in-house IT network is both financially and operationally challenging. Outsourcing all IT operations to a local company with a 10-year record of customer satisfaction eases that burden. Savings of 25% or more are not uncommon! Moving to “the cloud” is a better answer for many firms.
NetEffect offers NVCPA members a complimentary one-hour technology assessment, where they analyze all aspects of your technology needs to determine the best solutions for your firm. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
Posted on: January 5th, 2012 by DPhayre
It seems like iPhones are capable of doing everything but take out the trash. Aside from the obvious phone calls, we can view the latest movies and TV shows, and update our social sites. They store our music and give us directions to navigate to the nearest shopping center. You might think you know all your iPhone can do but here are a couple lesser-known tricks you will be happy to learn.
Saving Time
If you find it problematical to type a Web address on the small on-screen keyboard, before clicking in the address bar on your browser, turn your iPhone to a horizontal position. The keyboard will now be larger, making it easier to type an “e” and not a “w”. Here is a timesaving tip for making phone calls. When browsing the Web, if you come across a phone number you want to call, simply tap the telephone number on the screen and your phone will dial it.
More Efficient Typing
These tips from Apple result in faster typing. When using the on-screen keyboard tap the space bar twice at the end of a sentence. This will automatically add a period and capitalize the next word you’re going to type. If you use a lot of special characters, you can get them by touching and holding a letter. Then you’re able to select the character you want and insert it into the message.
Quick Printing
If you own an AirPrint-enabled printer, you can print documents, emails, and even Web pages right from your iPhone. To print an email message, tap the “Reply” icon and then select “Print” and your phone will send the message to your printer. For a Web page, touch the “Action” icon and select “Print.”
Creating Personalized Music Playlists
It’s simple, too, to create your own personalized music playlist. From the iPod app, hit the “Playlists” icon and then tap the “Add Playlist” icon. Give this new list a name, and tap any video or song on your iPhone to add it to his new playlist.
Posted on: December 28th, 2011 by DPhayre
Touchscreens have become an integral part of our way of life. When we interact with a product that has a touchscreen, we expect it to execute the action we want without a second thought. It wasn’t too far in the past that the idea of a touchscreen was a dream. Yet, today we see it as a common feature in many devices.
While most of us use this technology on a daily basis, most of us do not know how it works. How does a screen know what to do when we touch an icon? There are various types of touchscreen technologies but they all function based on a similar idea.
Resistive touchscreens
Many touchscreens today operate on the resistive model. Resistive touchscreens are coated with a thin electrically conductive layer. When you touch the screen, your fingertip causes the electrical current to change. This information is instantly sent to the device’s controller, which causes the device to react to your touch. Resistive touchscreen technology is cheaper, and is the most frequent form of touchscreen used in products today. However, such touchscreens aren’t the most sensitive.
Surface wave touchscreen
This form of touchscreen relies on ultrasonic waves that pass over the screen. Whenever your finger touches the screen, you absorb part of the wave. This data is sent to the device’s controller and an action is preformed. Simple right?
Capacitive touchscreens
Capacitive touchscreens tend to have the sharpest image quality. Capacitive touchscreens are coated with a material that sends a continuous electrical current over the sensor. The good news is, the body is also a type of electrical device. Which means that when you touch the screen you absorb some of the current. The device registers this disturbance, causing it to send information to its controller. The device will then perform the action that you requested.
It’s a good thing we don’t have to grasp the touchscreen technology to enjoy it. But it is nice to have a grasp, if only slightly, on how a technology works that we use everyday, particularly as we know that touchscreen technology isn’t going away any time soon.
Posted on: December 12th, 2011 by DPhayre
One of the most useful benefits of Android smartphones is that they are extremely customizable. You can customize everything from your home screen to the way you access documents and download apps.
Happily, customizing your Android smartphone is not very difficult.
Follow these simple suggestions to design your smartphone to better fit your life.
One-Touch Dialing
There are undoubtedly certain numbers that you dial more regularly than others. With Android smartphones, you can set up one-touch dialing for those people that you call the most. Simply press an open space on the screen and select the “Shortcuts” option. Then press Direct Dial and pick the right person out of your list of contacts. Now you can call that individual by simply pressing a single button.
Saving Time Searching the Web
If you have Web sites that you visit everyday, you can customize your home screen to incorporate shortcuts to these sites. To achieve this, press and hold the desired site in your browser’s bookmarks until a list of options pops up. Select the option “Add Shortcut to Home.” You’ll then see the selected Web page appear on your phone’s home page.
Organizing with Folders
Creating folders on your Android phone can help you keep everything organized; from contacts to pictures to work documents. To create folders on your home screen, press a blank space on the screen. When the menu pops up, choose “Folders.” This will allow you to create folders and name them. Then, simply, drag and drop documents, images, and files into these folders.
Posted on: December 8th, 2011 by DPhayre
Phishing scams are at the top of cyber criminals’ moneymaking lists. These scams can affect large corporations, small businesses or individuals. In 2010, over 300,000 complaints were filed to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership between the National White Collar Crime Center and the FBI, from small businesses and individuals victimized by online phishing scams and numerous other Internet related crimes.
Understanding what phishing is will help you protect your business from these cyber criminals.
What is phishing?
“Phishing” is the attempt to access private data, such as financial information, usernames, and passwords. This is accomplished by making false websites, graphics, email accounts, and phone numbers. The subject is manipulated, by one method or another, into revealing these types of data that may be used to steal their identity (social security numbers are a popular target). For small businesses phishing scams may attempt to obtain access to customer information or company financial information.
Examples of small business phishing scams
Thousands of small business owners have received emails from the IRS informing them that they must fill out W-4 forms or other tax forms, and return them via fax. These emails look incredibly real. Right down to the official IRS government seal. Unfortunately, many owners are worried that they are going to be audited by the IRS if they don’t take care of it immediately.
At the official website, IRS.gov, the IRS states that it will not contact companies through email first. Beware and use caution before clicking on a link claiming to be from them.
Your company email can be a target
Another way these thieves gain information is by targeting a specific individual within a business by sending him or her some kind of fake communication that looks completely legitimate but ends up delivering a virus or malware. This virus then infects the entire network, giving thieves access to private company data.
Phone phishing
Beware that there are also “Phone phishing scams”, in which someone claiming to be from a bank, for instance, might ask you to call and verify your account. Banks will not call you for this information, they already have it.
How to protect your business against phishing
APWG.org is the Anti-Phishing Work Group, and their mission is to provide wonderful advice on how to guarantee your business does not fall victim to phishing. Listed here are some of their tips:
Make sure your employees are aware of what phishing scams are, and are cautious when reading and responding to suspicious emails. Always err on the side of caution. Instead of clicking a link, open another browser window and go to the official website.
Never give out company financial information such as bank routing numbers to an inquiry made via email or telephone. Your bank does not need you to confirm account information…they already have that. An email like that, even if it has your bank’s logo, is a fake. To protect yourself and your information, make it a habit to check your accounts regularly for suspicious charges and withdrawals.
Make sure every computer in use has up-to-date virus and malware protection. Schedule regular full system scans. Never download “anti-virus” software from an unknown entity. It’s better to stick with trusted brands.
It is nearly impossible for law enforcement to stop phishing, so the best method of defense is the education of your employees for identifying, dealing with, and staying up to date with phishing scam trends.
Posted on: November 28th, 2011 by cmoyeno
With the ease and security of online shopping, you’d think everyone would be shopping at home this winter season. Of course, that’s not the case. Thousands of bargain hunters will be lined up waiting for the retail stores to open. And these savvy shoppers will have new bargain-hunting weapons at their disposal: mobile devices. Everyone with a smartphone or tablet will have with them specifically designed apps to help them navigate everything from where an item is in a store, to seeing if it is the best price, to being able to buy it online—in the store. Here are just a few of the ways technology is influencing our habits this holiday season.
Mobile Apps
An interesting trend this holiday season is appearing in mobile apps for both smartphones and tablets. These apps are specifically created to make your in-store shopping experience as easy as possible. One app in particular allows you to scan a barcode with your smartphone and it will compare that products price to other stores and online retailers.
Another app even lets you take a picture of the product, and it will likewise compare prices and availability. Still another allows you to skip the directory and locate the exact aisle placement of that prized gift.
Smartphone Marketing
Another interesting trend this season is in the strategies taken by marketers to hook us even when we’re not tied to our computers. Smartphone marketing could be the next big step in reaching consumers, and this holiday season will basically be the beta test. Many marketing agencies have set out to contact shoppers while they’re waiting in long lines, and offering big deals and discounts in “mobile-only” purchases.
Economical Technology Trends
Not only will we be using technology to make our shopping lives less difficult, but we will also be on the lookout for the next big advancement. The trend in technology is seen in the battle of the tablets—at half the cost, the Kindle Fire is posing a threat to iPad’s dominance, and a new iPhone competitor seems to be entering the market every day.
For good reason: the consumer is wary of the economy, will most likely spend less this year, and will be looking for both bargains and value.
Of course not all of us will be camped out in front of our computers making our holiday purchases this year. Many will have their smartphones and tablets at the ready to do battle against shop and shopper alike. But as technology gives us greater freedom as consumers to purchase wisely, we must also acknowledge the way the tech itself is in that constant battle for our money. And, in this economy, the machines, gizmos and gadgets that offer the most value, will be the ones to beat.
Posted on: November 28th, 2011 by cmoyeno
The Intel4004 was the first CPU on a single chip and also the first available to the commercial market. This week it celebrated it’s 40th birthday! We wish to say thank you to the microprocessor that grandfathered the CPUs we have today. A CPU is the brain of a computer. Known as the central processing unit, every bit of information in or out of a computer goes though the CPU. Just imagine what the Intel 4004, a tiny yet powerful CPU, did for the computing world in 1971. CPUs have come a long way since then, but they continue to be a huge part of our everyday lives.
The Intel 4004 was originally created for a calculator, but it quickly led to technological leaps in computing. Many common devices wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the powerful CPUs born from the Intel 4004.
These products include laptops, streetlights, and cell phones.
We can’t say happy birthday to the Intel 4004 without talking about the engineers responsible for its development. Federico Faggin led the design and development of the Intel 4004 with Ted Hoff, and Stan Mazor. In this ever-changing world of technology we can lose sight of its humble origins. The Intel 4004 was no small player in this.
So take a moment to appreciate the little microprocessor that grandfathered the technological world of today.
Posted on: November 28th, 2011 by cmoyeno
During the 3-day PhotoPlus Expo in New York, several exhibitors displayed their latest advances in photography technology. There were a huge array of cameras, lenses, printers, clothing, gear, gizmos and gadgets on display. The Expo was heavily bent for the professional photographer and the casual weekend or hobbyist cameraman might have felt left out. However, most of the latest introductions in technology were appropriate for both sections, even though some may be too highly priced. Here are 3 outstanding innovations showcased at the PhotoPlus Expo. A more detailed list of products displayed can be found here.
Sony
DEV-3 and DEV-5 3D Binoculars
The new Sony DEV-3 and DEV-5 3D Binoculars are out of this world with their amazing photographic and video potential. Of the two the DEV-5 is more advanced, but only the DEV-3 was on display. Both of them have incredible multifunctional capabilities and can be used as 3D binoculars, a 7MP camera or a 1080i video recorder. The DEV-5’s optical zoom capacity is an astounding 20X! One of the stumbling blocks, however, is the high cost of $2,000. The DEV-3 model has 10X zoom and costs $1400. But for people who are in the market for a high quality multimedia digital camera, these binoculars are worth looking into!
Gorillapod
Micro 250 and 350
The Joby brand is recognized for its popular bendy camera tripods. However, one of the most interesting devices at their booth was the Gorillapod Micro. Unlike their typical bendy tripods, these mini-tripods were extremely rigid and could easily fold up under the camera with minimal weight or space addition. They come in several sizes, and with the ease of transport of your tripod, you can have it with you at all times.
Wacom
Cintiq 24HD Pen Display
The Wacom Cintig 24HD Pen Display provides a massive 24-inch display to fit any need, from professional photographers to designers. For those who require precision editing of pictures and designs, it might be well worth the price tag of $2600. Because of their high demand, they’re relatively difficult to acquire though. The display is praised for its snappy responsiveness and exacting detail, making it ideal for anyone in 3D design, animation, industrial design, game development.
As a novice or professional, it’s always beneficial to keep up with cutting-edge technologies. We’re able to only showcase many of the incredible products that were displayed at the Expo. Browse the other cutting edge gadgets like state-of-the-art jackets, lighting, camera bags and gear here.
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Posted on: November 16th, 2011 by cmoyeno
It is a given that you will need to get some assistance from your IT service provider sooner or later. However, it is hard for them sometimes to help you because of their busy schedule, trying to solve a lot of people’s difficult problems. When asking for IT support, know that they cannot read your mind, and it’ll help them to solve your problem if you are able to offer as much detailed information as you possibly can in the original request. Here are some suggestions to make the process more streamlined for both of you.
Write an Informative Email Subject Line
Your company’s IT provider deals with numerous requests a day. Their greatest frustrations come when the requester does not give enough useful information. When you send them an email, you should first identify yourself, and tell them where you work. If your computer is having problems, identify your machine by make and model. Provide them with as much detail as possible. Simply saying “Help!!!!!!!!” in the request is far from helpful.
Details, Details, Details
In the body of your support request email, you should add all details you can, such as what OS you use, what actions you’ve taken, and what was the content of any error messages you saw. Error messages might not convey much to those who are not in the IT field, but they do to those in IT! Statements such as “followed some steps I saw online” are ambiguous to the recipient of your email and they may not be able to diagnose the problem without contacting you for further information. It is important to explain the problem in full.
Be Frank
You are a busy person and so is your IT support team. Though it may be necessary to explain details, don’t write a novel about your annoyance. Provide the required information in a detailed but succinct manner. Offering too many unimportant details increases the time it takes to provide you an answer to your problem.
In the end, you are all busy people and your IT services provider wants to help you quickly and efficiently.
Help them do so by following the tips above!
