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Have you heard about the latest productivity update from our friends at Google?

They’ve just added a little feature to Google Calendar that could make your life a whole lot easier – especially if you’re a hybrid worker.

Remember back in 2021 when they first introduced the option to share your working location with your colleagues? They’ve taken it up a notch.

Now, you can set up multiple locations for any given day on your calendar. So whether you’re splitting your time between the office and home, or out and about as a mobile worker, Google’s got you covered.

Picture this: you’re only in the office for half a day before you head off to a client meeting. With this new feature, your colleagues will know exactly when and where to find you.

Google is all about helping us work smarter, not harder. They know that loads of us are still working remotely, or juggling a mix of office and remote work. This update is specially designed for hybrid workers.

It’s only available to those with a Workspace account, including:

• Google Workspace Business Standard/Plus
• Enterprise Standard/Plus
• Education Fundamentals/Standard/Plus
• The Teaching and Learning Upgrade
• Nonprofits

Unfortunately, personal accounts won’t have access just yet.

The working location feature will be switched on by default. But if you prefer that your colleagues can’t find you (we’re not judging… we all get distracted at work) you can easily disable it.

If we can help you get the most out of everyday applications like calendars and email, get in touch.

Are you aware that the rise in global VPN usage has skyrocketed? The reasons are clear as day: Virtual Private Networks offer increased security, anonymity, and allow access to geo-restricted content online.

But here’s the million-dollar question: Are all VPNs created equal?

The answer is a resounding no. And that has potential implications for your business.

Free VPNs, although tempting with their zero-cost allure, aren’t always what they promise to be. Why, you ask? Let’s take a closer look at free VPN services.

For starters, it’s important to understand that running a VPN service comes with substantial costs. Servers, infrastructure, maintenance, staff – these aren’t free.

So how do free VPN providers keep the lights on? Some employ tactics that could compromise your privacy and security.

Imagine this: You’re sipping your morning coffee, browsing the net through a free VPN, believing your online activities are private. In reality, your sensitive information might be collected and sold to the highest bidder.

Cyber criminals, advertizers, even government agencies could potentially get their hands on your data.

Shocking, isn’t it?

Moreover, free VPNs are notorious for injecting unwanted ads and tracking cookies into your browsing sessions. Ever wondered why you’re suddenly bombarded with eerily accurate ads? It’s probably your free VPN service cashing in on your browsing habits.

Now, consider the potential danger if an employee downloads a free VPN on a company device, or on their personal device that they use for work. Company data could be exposed, representing a significant business risk. Picture a scenario where your company’s sensitive data falls into the wrong hands – a chilling thought, isn’t it?

So, what’s the solution?

It’s crucial to educate your employees about the risks associated with free VPNs. Encourage the use of reliable, paid VPN services that guarantee no logging of data, robust encryption, and superior user privacy.

In fact, you may choose to provide one to them. If we can help you find the safest, most suitable VPN for your business, get in touch.

Remember, when it comes to online security, free often comes at a higher cost. Isn’t it worth investing a few $$ a month to protect your company’s valuable information?

You may think that cyber attacks only happen to large corporations. But unfortunately, that’s not the case.

According to a recent report, almost two-thirds of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) suffered at least one cyber attack over the past year. That’s a staggering number, and it should serve as a wake-up call for businesses everywhere.

But it gets worse.

More and more businesses are also experiencing repeat attacks, with 87% reporting at least two successful attacks over the past year. And on average, a company suffers almost five successful cyber incidents.

Terrifying.

The question is, why are these attacks happening, and what can you do to prevent them?

The most common types of cyber attack that businesses face are malware and ransomware.

Malware is malicious software. It invades your system and can cause all sorts of problems, from slowing down your operations to stealing your data.

Ransomware is even more dangerous as it encrypts your data, making it impossible for you to access it unless you pay a ransom fee. This can be devastating for any business and can lead to significant losses and downtime.

What factors are contributing to more successful attacks?

One reason is the rise in BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). This means employees using their personal devices to access company information, which can be risky.

Another factor is the explosion of productivity apps, which can create security vulnerabilities if not properly secured.

Finally, the number of devices we’re using now means there are more entry points for cyber criminals to exploit.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect your business. Here are five solid security steps you can take.

1. Use strong passwords: Passwords are your first line of defense, so make sure they’re strong and unique. Better yet, use a password manager that can create and remember randomly generated passwords
2. Keep software up to date: Software updates often contain security fixes, so make sure you’re always running the latest version. This applies to both your operating system and all applications you use
3. Train your staff: Educate your employees on how to identify phishing emails and other scams. You can also run regular security awareness training sessions to keep everyone up to date
4. Backup your data: Doing this means if you do suffer a cyber attack, you can restore your systems quickly and with less disruption
5. Use antivirus software: This can help protect your systems from malware and other threats. Make sure you’re running a reputable and up-to-date solution

Remember, prevention is always better than cure. Take action today to help you stay protected.

And if that seems like a lot of extra work, let us help. Get in touch today.

Don’t be mistaken, we love Microsoft Edge (and think you will too), but lately, something has come to our attention that we wanted to share.

It’s always a good idea to be aware of what your browser is doing behind the scenes. And there’s an Edge setting that you might be interested to learn about. It’s one that sends the images you view online to Microsoft.

While this might not seem like a big deal on the surface – it’s done to enhance the images – some business owners might be concerned about the privacy implications. After all, you never know who might be looking at your browsing history.

The good news is that it’s easy to disable this setting if you’re concerned about it. Here’s how:

1. Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots (“More actions”) in the upper-right corner of the screen

• Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu

• Scroll down and click on “Privacy, search, and services”

• Under the “Services” section, turn off the toggle switch next to “Improve your web experience by allowing Microsoft to use information about websites you browse to improve search suggestions, or to show you more relevant advertizing”

That’s it! With just a few clicks, you’ve disabled the feature that sends images to Microsoft.

Of course, there are other settings in Edge that you might want to explore as well. Like the ones that control your data collection preferences, or the ones that limit pop-ups and redirects.

Why should you take a few minutes to check out your browser settings? Well, for one thing, it can help protect your privacy and security online. By being aware of what your browser is doing, you can make informed decisions about what data to share (and what to keep private).

Plus, exploring your browser settings can be a fun and educational experience in its own right. You might discover new features or hidden gems you never knew existed.

And don’t worry, you don’t have to be a tech expert to understand these settings. In fact, Microsoft has done a great job of making them simple and straightforward, with clear explanations and helpful tips along the way.

If you ever get stuck, our team is happy to help. Get in touch.

Are you tired of wasting precious time in meetings, only to leave feeling confused and disorganized?

Do you struggle to keep track of all the action items and follow-up tasks that come out of these meetings?

Microsoft Teams has launched a new feature which could solve your problems and boost productivity. 

Meeting Recap is an AI-based intelligent meeting recap feature, available exclusively to Teams Premium subscribers. This innovative feature harnesses the latest in artificial intelligence technology to generate comprehensive summaries of your meetings.

That means no more tedious recaps… but hello to accurate and efficient summaries that capture all the key points from your meetings.

The Meeting Recap feature doesn’t stop there. It automatically identifies action items and follow-up tasks, assigns them to team members, and even sets deadlines for completion. This means that everyone involved in the meeting knows exactly what they need to do and when it needs to be done. A great way to improve communication and collaboration within your team.

But it’s not just about efficiency. The meeting recap feature also offers customizable options to tailor the feature to your specific needs. Choose what information is included in the summary to ensure that you receive the most relevant and useful information possible.

If you’re not a Teams Premium subscriber, are there benefits of investing in this new feature?

Yes! For starters, it streamlines your workflow, saving you both time and money.

You don’t have to waste hours trying to decipher meeting notes and action items. Instead, you’ll have access to a clear and concise summary that you can refer back to any time.

Additionally, it improves organization and accountability within your team. With assigned action items and deadlines, everyone knows exactly what is expected of them.

Don’t underestimate the power of this new Meeting Recap – it’s a game-changer for businesses that want to increase productivity.

Don’t wait. If you need help upgrading to Teams Premium, we’re here for you. Get in touch.