Datalyst Blog

When an employee leaves your business, they go through (or they should, at least) a comprehensive offboarding process where you collect their keys, laptops, and other assets you gave them to do their jobs. You may have collected these physical keys, but certainly not their digital keys. You might still see them pop up in the instant messaging app, or you might find recent activity from their account in your shared drive, all of which is problematic.

If you’re not careful, ex-employees might still be using company resources for their own personal use, and this can create a serious security risk for your business—not to mention the legal ramifications should anything bad happen.

Cryptocurrency has brought about innovative new technology for use in the business world, but it’s also created more headaches, primarily due to ransomware. With ransomware, a malicious entity can lock down your computer files and demand a cryptocurrency ransom in exchange for your data’s safe return. So, why is cryptocurrency the chosen currency for these kinds of transactions?

So, you’ve added an antivirus to your business’ cybersecurity protections. That’s great—it’s an essential element of the comprehensive defenses that a modern business needs. However, it is important that the antivirus you’re relying on is, in fact, reliable.

Let’s go over how not all antivirus tools are the same, and what makes it so important to implement one that meets your business’ needs and protects against the threats you would otherwise have to deal with.

Let me ask you something: how well does your current IT support function?

If your first instinct is to say something vaguely positive, like “good” or “fine,” you’re probably missing out on significant benefits that could come from a more immersive and fleshed-out service delivery, rather than a stopgap meant to preserve the status quo. If your provider has never asked you about the future and your goals for it, it may be time to seek what else is out there.

With the rise of generative AI infiltrating pretty much every sector of society, it’s no wonder that businesses are finding creative new ways to use it for their gain. However, you need to be especially careful when using generative AI in the workplace. Today, we want to cover three common no-no’s that your business should keep in mind as it navigates the wild landscape that is AI.

You’ve got a business to run, and the last thing you need is for your technology to throw a wrench in the works. You’ve entrusted your IT to a support provider, but lately, you’ve had a nagging feeling that things aren’t quite right. Are you just being paranoid, or is your IT support really failing your business?

Let’s cut to the chase and look at five warning signs that it might be time to find a new IT partner.

Remember tape backup? For some SMBs who have moved on, this form of data backup is a clunky and frustrating relic of the past. But if you aren’t remembering it and are instead still dealing with it, you might be experiencing some operational frustrations of your own. Today, we want to cover a better solution—one that takes the unpredictability out of business continuity.

The horror genre has always been a means of shining a light on society's fears and concerns, often using metaphor to convey its message. In the spirit of the holiday, let’s consider some of the films over the years that have used artificial intelligence to teach us lessons through the ever-so-effective format of fear.

The Internet of Things is not a futuristic concept; it's a fundamental part of many modern businesses. IoT devices generate a wealth of data that can be used in several ways. Unfortunately, deploying IoT devices isn't enough. To get the most out of your IoT investments and ensure a strong ROI, you need a smart, strategic approach. Here are the best strategies businesses can use to get the most out of their IoT investments.

Did you know that the world’s most powerful supercomputer, Frontier, can perform over a quintillion calculations per second? That's a 1 with 18 zeros after it! This incredible power is what fuels the AI tools we're all starting to use. 

However, as the old saying goes, "with great power comes great responsibility." While AI can be a game-changer for businesses, it also opens up a new can of worms when it comes to data security. Many businesses are unknowingly putting their most sensitive information at risk by using public AI models.

Multitasking is a common thing for today’s workers, and so is having multiple tabs open in your web browser. You might even have multiple different apps running simultaneously, which can make you feel like you have to constantly close one window to open another. Well, no more. You can use Smart Windows (also known as Snap Windows) to place two or more side-by-side and enhance your productivity.

We've all been there. You're trying to quickly find that one photo from your vacation, or that important PDF for work, and you end up endlessly scrolling through a digital wasteland of screenshots, random downloads, and duplicates. Our smartphones have become extensions of ourselves, but without proper care, they can quickly turn into cluttered, inefficient tools that cause more frustration than they solve.

If your business has a Microsoft 365 subscription, you are likely using Outlook for email and Word for documents. However, if that's the extent of your usage, you're missing out on a significant portion of its capabilities.

Your subscription includes powerful applications that can improve teamwork, data collection, and overall efficiency across your entire operation. Let's explore them.

Your IT budget can cause you a lot of stress, but if you approach it right, it doesn’t have to. Like every other part of your business, you want to have a good idea where to invest your technology budget. Not that many people do. We recommend you build out an IT roadmap, and a strategy on how to keep downtime to a minimum; and a lot of that is getting experts to manage and maintain your business’ IT.

When you send an email internally, the basic expectation is that it'll be read and addressed. However, in the chaotic environment of a busy business—especially for smaller teams juggling an immense workload—emails can, and do, slip through the cracks. If your team relies primarily on email for communication, a reliable email archiving system is a necessity to prevent lost messages from creating a disaster.

Network hubs, network switches, network routers… What does it all even mean? All of these devices and terms can be confusing, and to some, they might even be interchangeable. However, the fact remains that they all serve different purposes, and some might not be the right solution for your business’ needs. Today, we want to break down the differences and when you might consider one over the other for your infrastructure.

These are turbulent times. Social media is an undeniable force in our modern lives, for the good and the bad. Anyone that has gotten into a discussion on their favorite social service knows how it can escalate very quickly. Navigating these digital mediums with intention is key to making it a positive and productive part of your life.

In this month’s newsletter, we wanted to roll out some pretty simple social media tips to live by, helping you to build a healthier and more meaningful online presence.

As a business owner, you’re juggling a dozen things at once. The last thing you need is a digital crisis. Yet, a single click on a malicious link can bring operations to a screeching halt, costing thousands and damaging your hard-earned reputation.

The threat is real, but protecting your business doesn't have to be a Herculean task. These essential cybersecurity practices are your first line of defense.

Regardless of how big or small your business is, chances are you have at least one server unit that holds sensitive data. Ask yourself this question: do you have the knowledge and expertise to properly care for and maintain that server unit? The best way to ensure your business takes care of its server technology is to work with a managed service provider. Here's why:

A significant and growing number of small businesses are either actively using AI tools or exploring their potential, motivated by the promise of increased efficiency, cost savings, and gaining a competitive edge.

It's an exciting movement, proving that AI isn't just for huge mega corporations. Small businesses are using AI for everything from generating marketing content and handling customer service inquiries with chatbots to analyzing customer data and automating back-office tasks. The goal is to compete faster and smarter.