The number of apps and web tools that employees use on a regular basis continues to
increase. Most departments have about 40-60 different digital tools that they use. 71% of
employees feel they use so many apps that it makes work more complex.
Many of the apps that we use every day have various alerts. We get a “ping” when
someone mentions our name on a Teams channel. We get a notification popup that an
update is available. We get an alert of errors or security issues.App fatigue is a very real thing and it’s becoming a cybersecurity problem. The more
people get overwhelmed by notifications, the more likely they are to ignore them. Just think about the various digital alerts that you get. They come in: • Software apps on your computer • Web-based SaaS tools • Websites where you’ve allowed alerts • Mobile apps and tools • Email banners • Text messages • Team communication tools Some employees are getting the same notification on two different devices. This just adds
to the problem. This leads to many issues that impact productivity and cybersecurity. Besides alert bombardment, every time the boss introduces a new app, that means a new
password. Employees are already juggling about 191 passwords. They use at least 154 of
them sometime during the month.How Does App Fatigue Put Companies at Risk?
Employees Begin Ignoring UpdatesWhen digital alerts interrupt your work, you can feel like you’re always behind. This leads
to ignoring small tasks seen as not time-sensitive. Tasks like clicking to install an app
update.
Employees overwhelmed with too many app alerts, tend to ignore them. When updates
come up, they may quickly click them away. They feel they can’t spare the time right now
and aren’t sure how long it will take.
Ignoring app updates on a device is dangerous. Many of those updates include important
security patches for found vulnerabilities. When they’re not installed, the device and its
network are at a higher risk. It becomes easier to suffer a successful cyberattack.Employees Reuse Passwords (and They’re Often Weak)Another security casualty of app fatigue is password security. The more SaaS accounts
someone must create, the more likely they are to reuse passwords. It’s estimated that
passwords are typically reused 64% of the time.
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Credential breach is a key driver of cloud data breaches. Hackers can easily crack weak
passwords. The same password used several times leaves many accounts at risk.Employees May Turn Off AlertsSome alerts are okay to turn off. For example, do you really need to know every time
someone responds to a group thread? Or just when they @name you? But, turning off
important security alerts is not good.
There comes a breaking point when one more push notification can push someone over
the edge. They may turn off all the alerts they can across all apps. The problem with this is
that in the mix of alerts are important ones. Such as an anti-malware app warning about a
newly found virus.What’s the Answer to App Fatigue?
It’s not realistic to just go backward in time before all these apps were around. But you can
put a strategy in place that puts people in charge of their tech, and not the other way
around.
Streamline Your Business ApplicationsFrom both a productivity and security standpoint, fewer apps are better. The fewer apps
you have, the less risk. Also, the fewer passwords to remember and notifications to
address.
Look at the tools that you use to see where redundancies may be. Many companies are
using two or more apps that can do the same function.
Consider using an umbrella platform like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. These
platforms include several work tools, but users only need a single login to access them.Have Your IT Team Set up NotificationsIt’s difficult for users to know what types of notifications are the most important. Set up
their app notifications for them. This ensures they aren’t bombarded yet are still getting
the important ones.Automate Application UpdatesA cybersecurity best practice is to automate device and software updates. This takes the
process out of employees' hands. It enhances productivity by removing unnecessary
updates from their view.
Automating device updates through a managed services solution improves security. It also
mitigates the chance there will be a vulnerable app putting your network at risk.
11Open a Two-Way Communication About AlertsEmployees may never turn off an alert because they’re afraid they might get in trouble.
Managers may not even realize constant app alert interruptions are hurting productivity.
Communicate with employees and let them know they can communicate with you. Discuss
how to use alerts effectively. As well as the best ways to manage alerts for a better and
more productive workday.Need Help Taming Your Cloud App Environment?Today, it’s easy for cloud tools to get out of hand. Get some help consolidating and
optimizing your cloud app environment. Give us a call today.
Article used with permission from The Technology Press
You wouldn’t think a child’s toy could lead to a breach of your personal data. But this
happens all the time. What about your trash can sitting outside? Is it a treasure trove for
an identity thief trolling the neighborhood at night?
Many everyday objects can lead to identity theft. They often get overlooked because
people focus on their computers and cloud accounts. It’s important to have strong
passwords and use antivirus on your PC. But you also need to be wary of other ways that
hackers and thieves can get to your personal data.
9
Here are six common things that criminals can use to steal your information.Old Smart Phones People replace their smartphones about every two and a half years. That’s a lot of old
phones laying around containing personal data.
Just think of all the information our mobile phones hold. We have synced connections with
cloud services. Phones also hold banking apps, business apps, and personal health apps.
These are all nicely stored on one small device.
As chip technology has advanced, smartphones have been able to hold more “stuff.” This
means documents and spreadsheets can now be easily stored on them. Along with reams
of photos and videos.
A cybercriminal could easily strike data theft gold by finding an old smartphone. They
often end up at charity shops or in the trash. Make sure that you properly clean any old
phones by erasing all data. You should also dispose of them properly. You shouldn’t just
throw electronics away like normal garbage.
Wireless Printers
Most printers are wireless these days. This means they are part of your home or work
network. Printing from another room is convenient. But the fact that your printer connects
to the internet can leave your data at risk.
Printers can store sensitive documents, such as tax paperwork or contracts. Most people
don't think about printers when putting data security protections in place. This leaves
them open to a hack. When this happens, a hacker can get data from the printer. They
could also leverage it to breach other devices on the same network.
Protect printers by ensuring you keep their firmware updated. Always install updates as
soon as possible. You should also turn it off when you don’t need it. When it’s off it’s not
accessible by a hacker.
USB Sticks
Did you ever run across a USB stick laying around? Perhaps you thought you scored a free
removable storage device. Or you are a good Samaritan and want to try to return it to the
rightful owner. But first, you need to see what’s on it to find them.
You should never plug a USB device of unknown origin into your computer. This is an old
trick in the hacker’s book. They plant malware on these sticks and then leave them around
as bait. As soon as you plug it into your device, it can infect it.
Old Hard Drives
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When you are disposing of an old computer or old removable drive, make sure it’s clean.
Just deleting your files isn’t enough. Computer hard drives can have other personal data
stored in system and program files.
Plus, if you’re still logged into a browser, a lot of your personal data could be at risk.
Browsers store passwords, credit cards, visit history, and more.
It’s best to get help from an IT professional to properly erase your computer drive. This will
make it safe for disposal, donation, or reuse.
Trash Can
Identity theft criminals aren’t only online. They can also be trolling the neighborhood on
trash day. Be careful what you throw out in your trash.
It’s not unusual for garbage to enable identity theft. It can include pre-approved credit
card offers that you considered “junk mail.” Your trash can also hold voided checks, old
bank statements, and insurance paperwork. Any of these items could have the information
thieves need to commit fraud or pose as you.
A shredder can be your best friend in this case. You should shred any documents that
contain personal information. Do this before you throw them out. This extra step could
save you from a costly incident.
Children’s IoT Devices
Electronic bears, smart kid watches, Wi-Fi-connected Barbies… all toys that hackers love.
Mattel’s Hello Barbie was found to enable the theft of personal information. A hacker
could also use its microphone to spy on families.
These futuristic toys are often what kids want. Parents might think they’re cool, but don’t
consider their data security. After all, these are children’s toys. But that often means they
can be easier to hack. Cybercriminals also zero in on these IoT toys, knowing they aren’t
going to be as hard to breach.
You should be wary of any new internet-connected devices you bring into your home.
That includes toys! Install all firmware updates. Additionally, do your homework to see if a
data breach has involved the toy.
Schedule a Home IT Security Audit & Sleep Better at
Night
Don’t let the thought of identity theft keep you up at night. Give us a call today and
schedule a home IT security audit. You’ll be glad you did.
Article used with permission from The Technology Press
Scheduling appointments is a common activity. Salespeople often set up virtual
appointments to answer questions about a product. Software companies allow people to
schedule live demos. Telehealth therapists allow clients to book video sessions.
Those are just a few examples of some groups that are going to love a new Microsoft
Teams feature. Virtual Appointments was recently added to the platform. It adds a new
meeting style tailored for engagements with customers.Have you’ve been using Teams and a different online appointment app? This new feature
will streamline the experience.
What Is Virtual Appointments in Teams?
Virtual Appointments gives you an all-in-one meeting platform for customer
engagements. You can schedule, manage and conduct B2C meetings in Microsoft Teams.
This new feature brings together the scheduling component with the video conference
interface. Anyone with the link can join the virtual appointment. They do not need a Teams
account. Image is from Microsoft The power of Microsoft’s scheduling app, Bookings, connects to Teams. This makes the
Virtual Appointments function as seamless as possible. 10
Some of the features below will be available with any Microsoft 365 plan. Some are
available with a premium plan.Teams Virtual Appointments FeaturesManage Scheduled Appointments
You can see your scheduled appointments in a single view. Manage cancellations and time
changes easily.
Send Customized Confirmations & Reminders
You can send customers a customized message via SMS or email. This personalizes the
experience for them. You can also use automation to give that personal touch without
having to send each one manually. Automated appointment reminders are another timesaving function.
Customized Waiting Room
Add a personal touch to your virtual engagements. You can customize the Teams waiting
room. You can use themes and logos to brand your business. You can also chat with
attendees while in the lobby waiting room. This is helpful if your current appointment is
running a little long. You can let them know you’ll be right with them.
Meeting Follow-ups
You can send meeting follow-ups after a virtual appointment. This helps you reduce the
time it takes to send any promised follow-up information. You also keep all details in a
single place. This makes your client communication trail easier to follow.
Organization & Department Analytics
How effective are your appointments? It’s hard to know if your demos are resulting in
sales if you don’t have a good tracking system. It’s also important to have visibility into
customer appointments across the organization.
You can do this with a premium analytics feature. It gives you helpful reporting. The
reporting provides insights into B2C virtual appointments in all departments.
How to Use Virtual Appointments
To start using Virtual Appointments in Teams, admins must set up a few things. Note, they
must be a Bookings admin to access these settings.
Create a Calendar
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In the Virtual Appointments app choose to “Create a calendar.” You can find this option on
the Home tab.
Larger organizations may wish to create different calendars for different departments.
Add Staff
Next, add staff members. You can add up to 100. You will also need to assign them a role.
Once you’ve added your staff, you can view their availability in both Teams and Outlook.
What's another nice thing about using an integrated platform like M365? It's the cross-app
compatibility. Your calendar syncs across apps.
Create Appointment Types
You’ll next set up your appointment types. You can choose from these two options: • Scheduled: You schedule the day/time. The system adds this information to the
email confirmation. • On-demand (Teams Premium): Customers can choose when to meet from your
booking calendarImage is from Microsoft Set Up SMS Notifications (If desired) If you choose to use SMS notifications and have the right Teams plan, you can set this up
next. This allows you to easily send appointment confirmations and reminders via text
message.
Note: Attendees currently need a valid U.S., Canadian, or U.K. phone number to receive the
SMS notifications. Link Forms (If desired)If you would like your attendees to fill out any forms, you can link them now. Virtual
Appointments allows linking up to four cloud-based forms. These would be forms you
have created in Microsoft Forms.Publish Your Booking Page 13
If you want to give customers the ability to book on-demand appointments, take this next
step. You will need to publish the booking page. You do this on the “Manage” tab of
Virtual Appointments. Select “Booking page,” and turn on “Publish booking page.”Get Help Using Your Microsoft 365 Tools More
EffectivelyMicrosoft 365 is a platform with many possibilities. Often, companies aren’t using all the
features they could. As a result, their team may be less effective. They could also be
wasting money on apps they don’t need.
Are you interested in help supercharging your Microsoft 365 experience? Give us a call
today to set up a meeting.
Article used with permission from The Technology Press
At the beginning of each year, a group of global innovators meets. They introduce and
show off breakthrough technologies. It’s done at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES),
which is typically held each January in the U.S
This year, over 3,200 exhibitors from 173 countries showed off the future. Giving us a
glimpse of what could show up in our homes offices, living rooms, or kitchens. The show
includes both wacky and very sensible inventions. All designed to push the limits and
expand how we use technology.People love their gadgets, so it’s always exciting to see the new tech that CES showcases.
It’s estimated that the global smart home household penetration was 14.2% in 2022. By
2027, it’s expected to more than double to 28.8%. What new gadgets did innovators introduce at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show?
Here’s a rundown of some standouts that you may want to check out.Loona – Intelligent Petbot Do you love the thought of having a pet, but not the mess? Can’t have one because of
where you live? Loona might be your answer. The developer promotes this smart gadget
as “the most intelligent petbot.” It’s currently gathering funding through a Kickstarter
campaign. Image from Loona’s Kickstarter page The cute little motorized pseudo pet can welcome you. It can also follow you when you
walk around, sneeze, scratch, and much more. Just like a dog or cat, Loona investigates
suspicious objects. Unlike most pets can beatbox, pose for pictures, and dance.
Ring Car Cam
Another consumer IoT device displayed at CES is already for sale on Amazon. It’s the Ring
Car Cam, which takes the popular doorbell cam concept on the road with you.
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This small internet-connected video cam has dual-facing cameras. It can capture images in
the car and on the road. It includes two-way talk to connect with loved ones at home. It
also has motion detection and real-time motion alerts.
AtmosGear Electronic Skates
If you’re feeling brave, you can soon strap on a pair of electric inline roller skates.
AtmosGear introduced the skates at CES. It expects to begin shipping them starting in May
of 2023.
The skates can get up to speeds of 25 km/H (15.5 MPH) and can reach a full charge in
about an hour. The “skate” is actually a motorized frame that you can attach to “all roller
boots.”
Tilt Five Augmented Reality Glasses
If you’ve been waiting to use augmented reality (AR) outside a video game, your chance
may be here. Tilt Five introduced an AR glasses system that connects to a computer
device. It can be used on board games as well as video games. Ready to bring some holographic life to your tabletop play? The system includes the
glasses and a board game. The glasses look somewhat like heavy-duty safety glasses. Both
interact to bring an AR element into the real world. Image is from Tilt Five
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Jabra Enhance™ Plus
This earbud/hearing aid combo can be very helpful to those with hearing loss. Jabra
Enhance Plus are earbuds that offer a 3-in-1 experience. You can use them for listening to
music, phone calls, and for hearing enhancement.
The small design makes them discrete, and they are also designed to be easy to use. They
include state-of-the-art technology to provide superior audio clarity.
Hasbro Selfie Series Figures
Have you secretly wished to have your own action figure…of you! Hasbro has you covered
with its new Selfie Series. You can use your phone’s camera to upload a pic and choose
from figures based on several franchises.
Make a figure of yourself from these universes:
• G.I. Joe
• Ghostbusters
• Power Rangers
• Marvel
• Star Wars
Use your smartphone and Habro’s app to customize your new digitized figure. Then all
you have to do is buy it and wait for it to arrive.
Twinkly Squares
Twinkly Squares are like the Lite-Bright toy all grown up. The squares allow you to add
panels of colored and automated lights to any wall. They’re great for a home office or to
add a pop of color to any space.
Because these are IoT gadgets, you can also program and control them. Create digital
artwork, have them sync with music, or use their voice feature.
Xebec Tri-Screen 2
Do you wish you had more screen space on your laptop? Don’t like the uneven feel of
using a second monitor that is higher than your laptop screen? Then Xebec’s Tri-Screen 2
may be your answer. 12
Image from Xebec site This gadget enables you to expand your laptop screen on both sides. It sits behind the
screen and expands the screen space both left and right.
Don’t Introduce Smart Tech Into Your Home without
Security
New electronic gadgets and home tech can be great. They can also expose your network
to security risks. Get help from a pro. Give us a call for a home security audit.
Article used with permission from The Technology Press
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