Determining Your Own IP Address In order to check your computer’s IP address, all you have to do is visit the website, TraceMyIP.com. Doing so will display a string of numbers that correlates to your IP address. Knowing your IP address is particularly important for your Internet browsing. What Exactly Is an IP Address? It might only look like a random string of numbers, but there’s much more to an IP address. Gartner’s IT Glossary defines an IP (Internet Protocol) address as such: A unique number assigned by an Internet authority that identifies a computer on the Internet. The number consists of four groups of numbers between 0 and 255, separated by periods (dots). For example, 195.112.56.75 is an IP address. As you might imagine, knowing how to identify IP addresses is important for a business owner who’s responsible for maintaining control over a network full of sensitive information. This allows you to see who’s been accessing your network. These records are often stored in a log for you to review, and checking this log is a great way to see if there has been any suspicious activity on your network. Who’s That IP Address? You can use an IP address to find out where a computer is coming from, like its country of origin and much more. Here are some red flags to look for in IP addresses: Countries with a reputation for harboring hackers. Your competition. Former employees. Foreign countries that your business has absolutely nothing to do with. To find out information like this, you can easily copy and paste the IP address in question into a form found here: WhatIsMyIPAddress.com/ip-lookup. Granted, you can’t expect too much from a free online tool like this. You won’t get specific street names or usernames, but you still find out a ton about an IP address, including: The ISP and organization’s name. The IP’s host name. The city (a best guess). The latitude and longitude of the location (a best guess). The area code for that region. Any known services running on that IP. Why Bother Knowing Your IP Address? Most hackers will understand that they can be tracked down by authorities identifying their IP address, so advanced hackers will attempt to make it as difficult as possible for you to find out their identity. They do so by bouncing their signal from different IPs around the world, making it borderline impossible to pinpoint their location. A hacker could potentially use a local IP address, but really be halfway across the world. It’s for this reason that you should always be on the lookout for suspicious network activity from unrecognized IPs. If you want to optimize your network’s security and your ability to respond to threats like our example, you’ll want to use a comprehensive network security solution like the one SRS Networks offers that’s designed to monitor for sketchy network access. And, of course, an enterprise-level firewall solution never hurt anyone, either. Also, by having SRS Networks strategically monitor your access logs with our remote monitoring service, we can blacklist specific IPs so that they can never access your network again. In fact, a UTM solution even has the power to block entire countries where hackers spring up like weeds. For more information about how we can protect your […]
One of the greatest challenges posed by email security is that it’s not as easy as setting up a security tool like a firewall and being done with it. When it comes to email, inboxes are constantly facing a barrage of new threats, and an employee can easily override your security solution to let a malicious message through. For an employee who doesn’t know what to look for in a malicious spam message, letting a threat through like this is as easy as overriding the security prompt from your antivirus software with a single click, simply because they “think they know better.” Therefore, included in your network security strategy needs to be a way to train your team on what to look for in an email threat. This is a formidable task since hackers are always looking for new ways to get around well-known traps by creating new threats. One mistake that businesses often make is assuming that, because they’ve hired employees who are competent at their jobs, that they will also be good at spotting email threats. Unfortunately, it’s too easy for these two skill sets to be mutually exclusive. After all, there’s not a whole lot of classes about spotting email threats at business school. Instead, when it comes to understanding email threats, many computer users only depend on what they’ve come across in blog articles like this that they’ve stumbled upon. Or maybe their knowledge comes from something that was briefly mentioned in a training seminar from years ago. It would do your business well to be proactive about email security by providing your staff formal training on the subject, regularly. Not sure how much your team knows about email security? One way to gauge their knowledge is to ask if they know about phishing attacks. If their reply is in regards to bait and tackle, then you’ll know that they’re behind the times, and thus, are susceptible to an email phishing attack. What’s an email phishing attack? Don’t be embarrassed if you don’t know. The only way for you to protect yourself from such an attack is to know what to look for. To that end, here’s a good definition from Indiana University of what an email phishing message is: Phishing scams are typically fraudulent email messages appearing to come from legitimate enterprises (e.g., your university, your Internet service provider, your bank). These messages usually direct you to a spoofed website or otherwise get you to divulge private information (e.g., passphrase, credit card, or other account updates). The perpetrators then use this private information to commit identity theft. Essentially, hackers who use phishing tactics are banking on their victims being ignorant of their con in order for it to work. What’s worse, someone who can’t spot a phishing attack, will be easy prey to a spear phishing attack. This is where a hacker spends extra time on their message to personalize it, making it appear like a legitimate message from a company that you regularly do business with, or even from your IT department. These messages are often more difficult to spot because they don’t have a generic feel to them, which is an easy giveaway for most spam messages. To learn more about what email threats you and your team need to look out for, […]
For a dramatic example of one dissatisfied customer using the power of the Internet to really stick it to a company, look no further than United Airlines’ infamous “guitar incident.” Musician David Carroll traveled with UA, and was horrified to learn that his $3,500 guitar was damaged by United’s baggage handlers. Even though United could have easily remedied this situation by paying for the damages, they chose not to, leaving Carroll disappointed and irate. Seeking justice, Carroll turned to the online public forum that is the Internet. He used his music skills to write a song and music video about his experience, appropriately titled, “United Breaks Guitars.” The video went viral, receiving attention from media outlets and investors alike. Within a month of posting the video, United’s stock fell by a whopping 10 percent, which comes out to roughly $180 million! Tragically, this entire incident could’ve easily been avoided if UA would have just ponied up a few grand and bought a new guitar for Mr. Carroll. When it comes to providing outstanding customer service, you want to do more than avoid making people mad. You need to go above and beyond and offer the best service possible. Here are four ways that any business can improve their customer service. Communicate Your Availability to Your Customers When a customer encounters an issue, they may wrongly assume that you’re not available to handle it, and then tell everyone about how your company “dropped the ball.” It’s well known that a customer is three times more likely to tell others about their negative experience than a positive one. Insult is added to injury when the broadcasting of a negative experience could’ve easily been prevented by the customer knowing about you and your team being available to assist them. Now for some good news, when a customer finds help and their problem is happily resolved, they will tell up to six people of their positive experience. Actually DO Quality Customer Service Providing outstanding customer service is much, much easier said than done. In a poll of businesses, nearly 90 percent of all companies said that customer service is their top strategic priority, yet, only 3 percent were actually shown to provide quality customer care. Providing great customer service has to be more than a marketing ploy or a feel-good decision by the executive board. Prioritizing in customer service must permeate the entire company and be a major part of its culture. This is the only way that your customer service representatives (the people who actually DO customer service), will come to care enough to go above and beyond. If your team perceives that customer service is just talk from the higher ups, they’ll treat the customers accordingly. Reach Out to Your Customers Online These same customers who use the Internet to tell others about their good or bad experiences with your business, can be positively influenced by your business through online interaction. By engaging your customers through your company’s social media pages, and even serving their needs online through your website, they will perceive that you care, which will go a long way in improving your company’s image. Compete By Providing Better Customer Service It’s been shown that up to 59 percent of customers would switch brands if better customer service is offered. […]
Therefore, it’s recommended that you take a moment to seriously consider the last time you significantly improved an aspect of your company by integrating new technology. This could be as simple as purchasing new workstations or server hardware, or upgrading to a new software that knocks the socks off of your legacy applications. If you can’t remember the last time you made an improvement like this for your technology, we have news for you; it’s probably holding your business back from accomplishing bigger and greater things. Be Open to Change You’ve heard the old adage, “Nothing risked, nothing gained.” It applies to IT, too. If you’re unwilling to make changes to your network, you won’t be able to reap any of the many benefits that upgrading your infrastructure might yield. Ask Your Team One of the best ways you can find out how you can improve technological innovation in the workplace is by asking your team what they feel could be improved on. You might just find that they need better technology in order to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. If this is the case, they’ll appreciate you asking how to make their jobs easier. Where Do You Want to Be? Consider where you want your business to be in the next five, ten, or even fifteen years. What technology could you use to achieve this goal? Is your current technology holding you back? If you consider how your use of IT affects your business model, you might be able to justify taking the time to innovate and introduce new solutions for your business. Outsource the Responsibility If you and the rest of your staff simply don’t have time to even consider IT innovation, you’re in luck. SRS Networks’s outsource IT management and consultation services are capable of taking on this responsibility so you don’t have to. We can provide your business with professional technology consultation that can help you make educated decisions about the future of your business. SRS Networks knows exactly how the small and medium-sized business wants to operate its technology infrastructure. We can work with you to ensure that it’s always operating at maximum capacity. This will help both you and your employees get more done throughout the workday. Give us a call at (831) 758-3636 to learn more.
As defined by Gartner’s IT glossary, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is: […] based on an IP standard that is capable of transporting voice and data packets over the same network. Unlike circuit-switched networks, IP doesn’t require a dedicated connection for an entire call. Voice signals are converted to packets that are sent across the network and reassembled in the correct order when they reach their destination. VoIP services can be deployed over the Internet or private IP networks (LAN/WLAN). Why should your business invest in a powerful VoIP solution? There are several reasons, but the most prominent one is that it’s a huge opportunity to save on your business’s operation expenses. Here are three reasons why VoIP is a significant contender for your business’s primary communications solution. Cost Savings: As already mentioned, VoIP has the ability to reduce communication costs every month in operational expenses. Legacy telephone companies are known for bundling together services that your business might not necessarily utilize, meaning that you’re wasting money paying for services that aren’t needed. A VoIP solution allows you to select from a variety of services, and you only pay for the ones that you use. Simple to Set Up: Because VoIP uses your Internet to transmit your voice, there are no extra wires that need to be added to your business’s infrastructure. There’s no overhaul of your entire cabling infrastructure to add new lines. Of course, this simplicity comes with a downside; your Internet connection must be stable and your bandwidth needs to be able to handle the increased traffic. Versatility: If you’re new to VoIP, you’ll be glad to hear that it’s super easy to use on several different types of devices. You can access your VoIP account through your browser, even if you’re on the move. All you need is an IP-enabled phone. This helps you stay productive even when you’re not in the office. SRS Networks has all of the tools and skills available to equip your business with powerful VoIP solutions that let you stay connected with both your customers and your employees. Depending on your business’s unique needs, you might need more than simple IP voice services. We can equip your business with video chat, instant messaging, and much more, as needed. Just give us a call at (831) 758-3636 to learn more.
Annual Budgeting is a Must When you set up a budget for your business, you first have to estimate all the expenses you absolutely have to take on in order to operate your business properly. These include: Rent/Mortgage Insurance Procurement costs Payroll and requisite taxes Marketing and sales Utilities (electric, water, Internet, etc.) Estimated maintenance costs Legal & accounting fees Licenses & fees Office supplies Travel costs Interest & depreciation This may be a daunting task, especially if you are new to business and new to a market. Once you ascertain what it costs to run your business annually, you have to be confident that you have the demand necessary to facilitate taking on these costs. By completing this task, you can attempt to play out different scenarios to get a better grasp on what is possible for your business over the next year. If you want to implement any major change to your business strategy, you’ll want to include it at this stage. Technology can be a significant expense, when you take into consideration that the costs are represented by several of the variables listed above. Not only do you need to procure the technology systems, but you need to improve the depreciated computing systems, to meet the specifications required to operate efficiently. You also have to consider the costs of IT support, since these systems are notoriously hard to predict. This often results in runaway technology costs that sap both the capital and operational budget. At SRS Networks, we provide solutions that can assist your business to ward against those runaway technology and support costs. Our comprehensive managed services offering delivers small and medium-sized businesses the opportunity to get all the technology support they need, for a consistent monthly flat-rate. With our remote monitoring and management solution, we can provide proactive maintenance to the machines attached to your network to ensure they remain reliable. We also make available help desk support and even on-site support for those times when remote support isn’t an option. These managed IT services can be indispensable for a business searching for a way to navigate your technology’s support, without having to pay a premium price. Managed IT services give you the opportunity to use more of your capital toward the administration of your business (like payroll), and to take on projects to make your business more efficient, without having to worry about the return on investment of your technology. Call us today at (831) 758-3636 to learn more about our managed IT services and other technology-related solutions.
Is Windows 10 Free? First, let’s talk about how Microsoft is handling the licensing/upgrade model. This has caused a lot of confusion over the past few months. If you are running a legitimate copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8, it’s likely that you’re eligible to upgrade to Windows 10 for free. There are a few requirements: If you have Windows 7, you need to be updated to Service Pack 1 If you have Windows 8, you need to be updated to Windows 8.1. Your version of Windows needs to be a registered copy. Windows 7 and 8 Enterprise are NOT eligible for the free upgrade. Windows RT is not eligible for the free upgrade. You have one year from July 29th, 2015 to get your free update to Windows 10. In short, most Windows 7 and 8.1 users will be able to upgrade their operating system to Windows 10 for free, as long as they do it within the next year. What’s New in Windows 10? The Slickest Windows Experience Yet Since a lot of people didn’t care for some of the changes made in Windows 8 and 8.1, Microsoft toned down what wasn’t working. The Metro Live tile interface that received a lot of flack has returned, but it’s less intrusive. Unless you’re using a tablet-like device or you want it front and center, the brightly-colored tiles stay tucked away. Cortana Microsoft’s answer to Siri, Cortana, is integrated with Windows 10. Cortana brings voice search capabilities to Windows in much the same way Siri does for the iPhone. She can help search for files, open applications, and search Bing. It’s nice to see this technology finally hit desktops and laptops, but it’s pretty clear smartphones are the ideal environment for Cortana. We don’t foresee many people talking into their PC’s microphone the way they might on their mobile device. Also, Android users will immediately feel out of place without any integration with Google. As expected, Microsoft’s Cortana is solely partnered with Microsoft Bing for web searches. It’s not a terrible interface, but power users are going to feel a little odd not having the choice. Asking Cortana to “sing a song” almost makes up for this shortcoming though (give it a try). Lots and Lots of Little Tweaks There are new keyboard shortcuts, better window controls, improved notifications, and a lot of other little improvements. Most users probably won’t dig into these very deeply, but if you want to get the most out of your gadgets, Windows 10 delivers users a lot of nifty improvements to explore. One of the most interesting additions is virtual desktops, which allow you to spread your work across multiple desktops that you can cycle through quickly. The New Browser Microsoft Edge, the long awaited replacement for Internet Explorer, is a huge improvement. The browser is faster, more secure, and has a lot of modern features reminiscent of smartphone browsers. It’s easy to share information, take notes, and get access to relevant information. Edge might not convert any die-hard Firefox or Chrome fans, but it should improve the experience of users who just use what browser the operating system gives them. Furthermore, you can take notes and draw on web pages for future reference. Tighter Integrations with Office 365 This is where things […]
Why Passwords Aren’t Good Enough Passwords might have been valuable once upon a time, at the dawn of computing when hacking was in its infancy, but thanks to advanced hacking techniques, finding out a user’s password has grown increasingly easy. In fact, all a hacker needs to do so is to trick a user into forking over sensitive information by posing as someone with authority through an email message or phone call (a tactic known as “phishing”). That’s right; it’s really that easy. Granted, not all business professionals will fall for these simple tricks. Still, that doesn’t mean that your employees, who aren’t nearly as skeptical as you, won’t unintentionally throw your business under the bus by handing out your credentials like it’s candy on Halloween. As the owner of your business, it’s your responsibility to make sure that all of your infrastructure’s bases are covered. Introducing Two-Factor Authentication In the most basic terms, two-factor authentication is a way to make it more difficult for hackers to access your accounts. This is typically done by using a separate security credential that only you have access to. This additional security measure is often enough to dissuade hackers from attempting to access your network (or bank account, email, Facebook, etc.). For them, it’s simply a matter of risk and effort, versus the reward. If the return on investment isn’t worth the effort, they’ll probably leave you alone. Some of the most popular methods of two-factor authentication include: SMS Message: A secondary code is sent to your smartphone. All you have to do is enter it when your account prompts you to and you’ll have access to your account. Email to a Secondary Address: If you’d rather not receive your authentication code with your phone, you can simply check your secondary email address for it. Voicemail: You can even have your security code sent to your phone’s voicemail, or in an automated voice call. Two-Factor Authentication Apps: Some accounts, like Google and Microsoft, allow for easy authentication simply by connecting your account to an application on your smartphone. There are plenty of two-factor authentication choices out there. SRS Networks can help equip your business with the highest quality standard for your organization’s security solutions. Our services range from providing preventative measures, remote monitoring, and even offering two-factor authentication. Reach out to us at (831) 758-3636 to find out more about how SRS Networks can assist your business.
Take Advantage of Visual Aids Using a visual aid for your presentation isn’t an option; it’s mandatory. Consider these statistics: People are six times more likely to retain information from a presentation if a visual aid is used. For humans, 83 percent of all learning occurs visually. For businesses, Microsoft PowerPoint has been the standard visual aid tool for years. Although, if you’re looking for an alternative that may better fit your needs, look into other presentation tools like Prezi, Microsoft Sway, and a host of other apps that can be found online (some are even free). Additionally, consider using a physical object as an illustration. Go Big On the Introduction You know from your business dealings just how important first impressions are. Presentations are no different. Take it from Cesar Gomez, vice president of Toastmasters, Valencia: The first seconds of a talk are critical. If the introduction is boring and without imagination, the audience will lose their interest in the rest of the presentation. A creative and interesting beginning captures and maintains the attention of the people. In addition to capturing the audience’s attention with a dynamic introduction, it will give you a confidence boost that will carry you through the rest of your presentation. Also, be aware that your introduction will set the tone for your entire speech. Therefore, be sure to align your introduction with what you want to accomplish with your speech. If you’re trying to establish credibility, share statistics or a relevant personal story. If you want to entertain, open with a joke. For your consideration, here are some additional ways to enhance your introduction: Start with a quote. Tell a story. Communicate why your presentation will bring value. Surprise your audience with an antidote that’s completely unexpected. Look ‘em in the Eye Eye contact during a presentation is one of the biggest aspects of a speech that separates the amateurs from the professionals. Maintaining eye contact throughout the duration of your presentation is essential. It establishes your authority and captures the attention of your audience. Obviously, you don’t want to be overly-creepy about it by staring someone down, but you do want to attempt to refrain from looking at your notes as much as you can. One way to accomplish this is by memorizing your speech. Bring Something to Give Away By investing in a giveaway, you’re communicating to your audience that you care about the presentation and them. Additionally, an audience member who walks away with a memento from your speech will go on to remember you every time they come across the object. Therefore, be sure to give away something practical that they can use over and over again. To take your giveaway to the next level, be sure to tie it in with a product or service that your company offers. Here are some examples: A free consultation. A free eBook. Branded merchandise (like mouse pads, coffee mugs, pens, tote bags, etc.). Samples of your product or a trial of your service. It’s also a best practice to give your audience a copy of your presentation so they can have something to reference. This can be done with handouts of your speech and an audio copy of your presentation. Always End With a Call to Action At the end of your […]
Step 1: Define Your Audience You might recall reading about sociolinguistics at some point or another. This is the study of how different people speak to one another. For example, if you tried to speak to your doctor the same way you speak to a toddler, they’ll probably really, genuinely think that something’s wrong with you. Similarly, you might speak to your clients differently than you do to your leads and competitors. Thus, knowing your audience is one of the key elements of preparing for your next presentation. Do some research and come up with a definition for who you’re marketing to. Include information that they’ll want to hear, and speak to them in an appropriate manner. It’s important to establish a meaningful connection with them while presenting. Step 2: Present Valuable Content The point of any good presentation is to offer valuable content. This means engaging the audience with information that is relevant to their current situation. Consider what your audience wants to do with the information you present, and what you want them to walk away with. By providing deep, enriched content that’s tailored specifically for your audience, along with practical knowledge that can easily be implemented, you can offer your audience more than enough reason to buckle down and pay attention. Plus, if you don’t put adequate thought into the preparation process, your audience will be able to tell. Step 3: Practice Makes Perfect One way to beat glossophobia is to practice, practice, practice. You can never practice too much. After you’ve thoroughly researched and composed what you’d like to present, it’s time to ensure you can present it in a clear, organized fashion. Once you’re familiar with the content, you can rehearse in front of a mirror rather than a live audience. This helps you work on your facial and other physical expressions. Once you’re comfortable rehearsing on your own, you should rope some of your colleagues or coworkers in. This helps you get a feel for how your presentation will sound in front of a live audience. Besides that, it gives you a chance to get some constructive feedback. You can then change your approach accordingly. Step 4: Examine Successful Presentations The quality of your presentation is going to be based on both the amount of personality you display, and your comfort level speaking to a group of people. In order to find your voice, consider reviewing presentations of those you admire from within your industry. Try to imitate them and borrow elements from their on-stage behavior. Pay attention to their use of humor, vocal inflection, facial expressions, and other non-verbal characteristics that could enhance your communication skills. If you don’t know where to start looking, visit www.ted.com, where you’ll find unlimited amounts of amazing speakers presenting on an array of extremely interesting and relevant topics. This week, we covered how you can best prepare for your presentations. Next week’s tip will contain information on how you can deliver the most effective presentations possible. As always, stay tuned for the best productivity and technology tips from SRS Networks by subscribing to our blog.