Microsoft Office 356 vs. the Free Alternatives: Why Office is Still King

Information Technology / Pennyrile Technologies

If you regularly deal with documents, spreadsheets, and even take digital notes, then there’s a very good chance you’ve at least heard of Microsoft Office 365, even if you don’t currently use it. Below, you can learn more about Office 365 vs the traditional product and why it still reigns supreme over the various freeware alternatives like OpenOffice and LibreOffice. What is Microsoft Office 365? Microsoft Office 365 is the cloud-based version of Microsoft’s ever-popular Office suite. The suite itself comes with a host of helpful productivity tools, including Word (word processing), Excel (spreadsheets), Outlook (email client), and even OneNote (collaborative note-taking and filing software). With traditional Office products, you can only use them locally. However, with Microsoft Office 365, you can take your suite anywhere as long as you are connected to the internet. Office 365 also offers affordable monthly billing in exchange for free updates to the latest versions of each of its productivity tools. Open-Source Microsoft Office 365 Alternatives Despite Microsoft Office 365’s reputation for being the best productivity suite on the market, there are several competitors out there offering similar products for free. The two most popular are OpenOffice and LibreOffice, which each offer both desktop and mobile versions of their tools. To properly compare the open-source models with Microsoft 365, it’s important to look at a few different categories. User Interface and Ease of Use: Every single open-source productivity tool suite on the market has been modeled after Microsoft Office. This is true of not only LibreOffice and OpenOffice, but also of Google G Suite, which is Google’s own productivity suite that is free for consumers and available at cost to larger businesses. Microsoft Office 365 is the king in terms of usability thanks to unique functions like Smart Lookup and the Recent Documents feature available in Outlook to make sending an email even easier. Functionality on Different Machines: All three suites tend to use about the same amount of resources, which means they will all run similarly on various machines. It should be noted that OpenOffice and LibreOffice often struggle to function properly with the latest Windows 10 updates, but they do eventually catch up. Customer Support: Microsoft’s customer support is incredibly helpful, and in fact, you will probably never even need to take advantage of most of your options. Not only do you get Microsoft official support, but you also get additional help from a bevy of licensed vendors, numerous free self-help books, YouTube videos, and more made exclusively for Microsoft products. Remote Access and Share-ability: Finally, when it comes to collaborating on documents with others, Microsoft Office 365 is the best way to go. It introduced web collaboration in 2010 and has continued to improve it over the last decade, especially with the addition of One Drive (once known as Sky Drive), that allows you to save your files in the cloud. Though freeware can save you a bit of money when it comes to your productivity tools, Microsoft Office 365 remains the best option. It offers better support, it is optimized to run on Windows 10 (like many business computers do), and it comes with collaboration features that simply cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Microsoft Office 365 also pairs nicely with various email security measures and antivirus options, too, making it incredibly user-friendly.

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A Decade from Now: 5 Predictions for the Future of IT

Information Technology / Pennyrile Technologies

Information technology has come a long way in the last two or three decades. Whereas servers once took up entire rooms, it is now possible to fit numerous servers in a room the size of a closet – something even experts would have never predicted. Below are five predictions for the future of IT that could affect the way your company does business – or at least affect the hardware and services it uses. #1 – Zero-Size Intelligence Technology is Coming It’s hard to believe, but the first computers took up an entire room and had only a fraction of the processing power of today’s smartphone devices. Today, things are certainly different, and the technologies we use to keep us connected to the world and to our businesses easily fit in our pockets. Within the next 10 years, experts believe that we will be even closer to what is known as zero-size intelligence. This simply refers to having a ton of processing power in a very, very tiny package – perhaps even the head of a pin. #2 – VoIP Will Still Be Relevant Though mobile phones have come a long way in the last several years, they simply cannot compare to the features and benefits associated with VoIP for business. In fact, companies that choose the right VoIP provider can enjoy many of the same calling features that a mobile phone would provide, including the portability. Other reasons why VoIP will remain relevant in the next decade include cheap international communication, enhanced affordability, user-friendly software, and incredible scalability. #3 – Mass Data Could Replace Independent Decision-Making IT, or Information Technology, is all about data management. In the next 10 years, experts think that the tremendous amounts of data being collected, the machines used to process that data, and the algorithms telling those machines what to do could progress to a point where many independent decisions about what to watch, what to wear, and even what to eat become a thing of the past. In fact, the technological advances may even pose moral problems in the future as people must decide how to use the vast amounts of data they collect. #4 – Youth Involvement in Technology will Increase There’s an ongoing joke that the older we get, the less “tech-savvy” we become, but it’s actually the opposite that is true. Younger people who grow up with the latest technologies fare far better in the high-tech world and they can adapt at a much faster rate than the older generations. Because of this, the younger generation is by far the best generation to drive the tech industry forward. They can build upon what they already know and create new technologies designed for convenience, safety, and more. #5 – You Will Need to Protect Yourself from So-Called “Dark” Networks The more data we collect, the smaller the world becomes. The internet allows us to gain access to practically anything we can imagine – a recipe, a chat with a friend on the other side of the planet, and more – instantaneously with a few clicks. Unfortunately, while most people use the internet for good, there are some who use it for more sinister purposes. As technology advances in the next decade, these “dark web” groups and “hacktivists” will thrive, and they will pose new challenges for businesses of all sizes striving to keep their data safe. The next decade will bring about some brand-new challenges for everyone connected to the internet, including both consumers and businesses alike. In some cases, the problems we already see today will be exacerbated. Hopefully, though, with increased knowledge and the ability to predict the actions of others, it will be possible to make the right decisions about information, technology, and the way they work together. IT Support For Your Business Predicting the future of information technology is hard, but Pennyrile Technologies is great at helping small and medium businesses secure and manage their networks. If you have needs for managing your IT infrastructure or looking to cybersecurity, contact us today for a free consultation.

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The Importance of Phishing Email Tests for Employees

Information Technology / Pennyrile Technologies

Phishing is a real threat to small and medium businesses, and if employees are not diligent about protecting the information that they can access, even the smallest mistake can cost your company everything. Phishing email tests are a great way to help you better understand your vulnerabilities, and they give you a great talking point during security meetings. Here’s what you should know. What is Phishing? Phishing is an online scam in which a criminal sends out emails pretending to be someone else and get their target to reveal sensitive information such as credit card numbers,banking information, or passwords. One example would be a criminal trying to impersonate someone within your organization like a CEO, CFO, or manager. Another example would be a cyber criminal trying to impersonate a business outside your organization like Google, Netflix, PayPal, and others, in order to get your employee to provide sensitive information. The goal is to get your employees to act out of fear or curiosity and gain access to various types of data. This may include things like a username or password or even bank account information. For businesses, the ultimate goal may be your entire network, which can be devastating. Phishing is also not limited to emails. Cyber criminals may also employee other methods such as text messaging or phone calls. The Effects of Phishing on Businesses Per a 2017 report compiled by PhishMe, the average phishing attack on a mid-sized business cost that business a total of $1.6 million – a sum that can easily cause a company to go under. The same report found that employees are most susceptible to phishing attacks that target them as consumers rather than employees. The good news in the report is that phishing susceptibility rates are on the decline; 14.1% of organizations fell victim to phishing in 2015 compared to just 10.8% in 2017. Nevertheless, it is crucial that small and medium businesses remain vigilant in their security. The effects of phishing on businesses is not limited to monetary losses either. Other examples include loss of intellectual property, damages to a company’s reputation, loss of productivity, and loss of customers to name a few. Common Characteristics of Phishing Emails A Sense of Urgency – A favorite tactic amongst cyber-criminals is to try and get you to act quickly on their request. They create this sense of urgency so you don’t have time to think things through or see how this may be an abnormal request you wouldn’t normally get or respond to. Poor Spelling and Grammar – Another common sign of a phishing email is poor spelling and grammar. Many phishing emails try to impersonate large companies such as Google and Microsoft, but then have their phishing emails littered with common spelling mistakes, unusual phrases, and grammatical errors that could easily have been fixed with auto-correct. Suspicious Attachments – Be wary of attachments in emails you weren’t expecting or don’t make sense to you. They often contain payloads like ransomware or other viruses that will infect your computer and network. Try scanning for viruses before opening or reach out to the sender to verify if possible. Too Good To Be True – Special offers or attention-grabbing statements are designed to attract people’s attention immediately. For instance, many claim that you have won an iPhone, a lottery, or some other lavish prize. Remember that if it seems to good to be true, it probably is! Unusual Senders – If the sender is not recognized as someone you would normally communicate with or you did not initiate the conversation, be wary of clicking on anything or responding to the email. Phishing emails are unsolicited, and a common tactic is to inform the recipient they have won a prize or will benefit from a discount by clicking on a link or opening an attachment. Inconsistencies in Email Addresses, Links & Domain Names – Often cyber-criminals will try to make an email address look very similar to a legitimate address, but upon closer inspection, you will see it may be off by a character or two. An example would be no-reply@yahoo.com (legitimate) versus no-reply@yahoooo.com (not legitimate). Links in emails can be hovered over to see the actual link address. If they don’t match, don’t click! What are Phishing Email Tests? Phishing email tests are mock attacks that helps you better understand everything from your company’s internal email security to your employees’ diligence in reporting phishing scams. It is a controlled environment in which an IT professional determines your employees’ awareness of cybersecurity by determining whether phishing emails can get through email security and, if so, whether your employees will respond to them. This way, you can make the changes you need to make – and properly train your employees – in anticipation of a real cyber-attack. What You Should Do with Your Phishing Email Test Results Ideally, your phishing email test should include everyone in your organization, including those at the highest levels. This way, you can better manage these employees’ awareness of cybersecurity and make the appropriate changes where necessary. Take the results of the test seriously, and use them to determine the best next step for your company, whether that involves implementing managed email security services or providing more training for people who performed poorly during the test by responding to phishing emails. The best way to prevent cyber-attacks like phishing emails is to prepare for them proactively through managed antivirus and anti-spam services that are constantly monitored and updated to prevent even the newest and most dangerous threats. Aside from this, regularly performing phishing email tests in the workplace will help you understand your susceptibility and ultimately create a safer network for your business. Phishing Email Tests Conclusion Every business should incorporate phishing tests as part of their cyber-security plan. Phishing tests help train employees, often the weakest link in any organization’s security, what to look out for and also help identify employees who may need additional training in security. If you’re ready to

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How to Hire IT Professionals for Short-Term or Limited-Time Projects

Information Technology / Pennyrile Technologies

Depending on the nature of your business and the niche it is in, you might find that you need to hire IT professionals on a short-term basis for limited-time projects. It can be difficult to find people who are willing to work as short-term employees, but outsourcing is a great alternative. Below are some tips and tricks for finding the right professional for the job. Examples of Short-Term Projects When your business is very small, it can be difficult to imagine the types of projects that might call for short-term employment of IT professionals. However, there are several. They include: Designing your network and infrastructure from the ground up Office 365 migrations Upgrading servers and workstations Installing, upgrading, or migrating firewalls and other important security measures Workstation or server data recovery following disasters or hardware failures Cabling services and conduit work Wireless network infrastructure Security cameras and monitoring Setting up virtualization or remote access as needed for your employees Of course, this is not an all-inclusive list, but it does represent some of the most common short-term projects that call for access to IT professionals. Outsourcing Short-Term Projects There are several benefits to outsourcing your entire IT department, but in this case, you may only need consulting and project help for a short time. Once again, outsourcing is often the best way to accomplish these goals. To do it, make sure that you look for a local company with years of IT experience and one that has the time and desire to help your business succeed. This way, you can overcome common issues such as language barriers, team management issues, poor quality work, and data security issues just to name a few. Problems with Hiring Internally Depending on the size and type of business you own, it is often best to leave network-related and IT projects to the professionals who best understand them. When it comes to hiring someone to help with one of the short-term projects listed above, you have two options. First, you could go through the process of trying to hire someone internally, which often involves putting ads in newspapers and on websites. Not only does it cost you a great deal of money to place these ads – money small businesses simply don’t have to spend – but it also means you will spend a great deal of time interviewing candidates for a project that you may not fully understand. Hiring staff for an IT project means managing the project remains internal. With expanded project needs, this often means increased management and training costs for the business. Also, an individual hire would not have the combined IT experience of of an outsourced IT department. Individuals also take vacations leaving you understaffed unless you hire multiple support technicians. An outsourced IT department would not have the same issue. Focus on Your Business – Not the Short-Term Project Leaving IT projects to the professionals is beneficial because it allows you to rest your mind at ease. When you choose to outsource your short-term IT projects, and when you pick a local company with a solid reputation for quality, you can continue to focus on more important aspects of your business and leave the upgrades, installations, migrations, and more to the people who have the education and experience to handle them on your behalf. Though outsourcing IT projects was once a terrifying prospect, today’s outsourcing is much different. Look for a local provider that understands your business needs and can provide you with professionals who will get the job done right – and in a timely manner – so you can focus on running your company.

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Can Weekly Meetings Improve Internet Security in Your Place of Business?

IT Support / Pennyrile Technologies

Network security in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. This means that every employee who has access to your company’s network must be well-versed in cybersecurity and understand all the risks out there on the world wide web. One of the absolute best ways to make sure your network is secure involves hosting short weekly meetings with your employees to discuss any problems, concerns, or tips you might have. What a Weekly Meeting Should Accomplish Hosting a weekly security meeting should accomplish one primary goal – ensuring that your employees understand today’s threats and that they have the tools they need to protect themselves and the company from attacks. Meetings should be short and to the point, and they should allow you to address any concerns you might have about email and/or network security with the people who access the network every day. The Five Things to Cover During a Internet Security Meeting The National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, has created a simple framework that businesses should use in order to facilitate network security. You can utilize this same framework during your short weekly meetings to ensure that everyone’s concerns are being address and your network is being protected. The steps include: Asset Identification: This involved determining which bits of data and/or information are most important to the success of your company. These assets are almost always the ones that are most valuable to criminals, too. Protection: You can also talk about the protections you have in place to defend these assets and discuss further measures you could take for better protection. Detection: You should be sure to use this opportunity to allow employees to talk about any potential security concerns they might have – including any potential threats they may have experienced in the prior week. Response: Be certain that you have a response plan set up and that your employees know what to do in the event of an attack. Recovery: Finally, everyone in the organization should know exactly what they must do to in order to avoid as much downtime as possible after a breach. They should also know what their legal obligations might be. Email Security Implementation Weekly meetings are also ideal for discussing the implementation and efficacy of email security programs, which include managed anti-spam and more. You can use this time to gauge whether the actions you have taken to protect your employees and your business are effective by talking with the people who are affected the most – the employees themselves. These meetings are crucial for truly understanding the sort of problems your company faces every day, and they also give you ample opportunity to help your employees better understand the basics of cybersecurity and the impact their actions can have on the company as a whole. In the long run, weekly internet security meetings can go a long way to help reduce your operating costs, boost productivity, decrease risk and potential downtime, and ultimately protect your most important assets from the criminals who work hard to access them. By incorporating these meetings alongside managed internet security support systems, it is possible to protect your company from spam, phishing, viruses, and ransomware.

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5 Benefits of Moving Your Apps to the Cloud

Information Technology / Pennyrile Technologies

In 2017, a security report published by Intel showed that 93% of some 1400 IT professionals were using some sort of cloud service in their organization. This indicates that even small companies are truly beginning to understand the importance of cloud computing and the benefits it can provide. Below, you can learn more about the five most important benefits of moving your company’s apps to the cloud. #1 – It Saves You Money If your company still uses its own servers and other hardware to host applications locally, you could save a great deal of money by switching to the cloud. Building and operating full-on datacenters can get incredibly expensive when you figure the cost of the hardware, facilities, utilities, employees, security, and more that goes into them. When you switch to the cloud, you can cut your IT costs substantially. #2 – Cloud Computing Gives You Flexibility Cloud computing programs run the gambit of everything your business needs. Everything from your CRM software to the productivity suites you use to help keep your employees on track come with flexible payment options designed to fit your budget. Most are subscription-based, which means you only pay for the services you need for as long as you need to use them. The best part? Cloud computing is far simpler to scale than a fully-fledged datacenter. It grows right along with your business, and all it takes is a few clicks or a phone call to make it happen. #3 – It Makes Communication Simpler In today’s world, with so many professionals required to make a project come together, anything you can do to facilitate communication is appreciated. Cloud computing is one of the best ways to do this; workflow and file-sharing apps located in the cloud can be accessed by anyone from anywhere at any time. This means everyone involved in a project can see updates in real time, share documents, and communicate far more effectively. #4 – Employees Can Work Remotely Gone are the days of employees only being able to work at their desks in the physical workplace. Today, the companies that provide employees with access to their applications from home, the subway, or anywhere they happen to be are the ones that enjoy the most success. Cloud apps can be accessed from desktop computers at home or at work, from laptops on the go, and in some cases, even from mobile phones or tablets. #5 – It Makes Redundancy and Data Recovery a Snap When you store your apps, documents, and data in the cloud as opposed to on-site, it makes redundancy – which is crucial for data recovery in the event of a disaster – a breeze. If there should be a fire, a flood, or any other natural disaster that damages your servers or hardware and renders data useless, you have copies stored online that you can access immediately to prevent downtime and keep your business moving right along. Cloud computing offers numerous advantages. Not only is it incredibly affordable, but as the years go by, it becomes safer and more secure at the same time. It saves you money, promotes flexibility and scalability, makes it easier for employees to collaborate, and provides immediate access to your data in the event of a disaster or hardware failure – all of which can help your business succeed.

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The 4 Most Important Qualities and Skills for an IT Professional

IT Support / Pennyrile Technologies

Information technology is a huge industry these days. In fact, almost every single company in existence – from one with only one or two employees to one with thousands spread across the globe – relies on accurate information and a secure network in order to thrive. Before you hire an IT professional for your company, look for the following qualities and skills to ensure the perfect match. Problem-Solving Skills Information technology is fraught with problems. Things simply stop working, networks go offline, and hardware decides to simply stop functioning properly. However, an IT professional should be able to not only remain calm when these types of failures occur, but he or she should also be able to preemptively plan for such things to prevent any disruption to your business. Any IT professional you hire should demonstrate outstanding problem-solving skills for this reason. Otherwise, you may find yourself dealing with far more downtime than you anticipated. Effective Communication Keep in mind that IT professionals must be able to communicate issues with other departments, and failure to do so appropriately could lead to trouble. Maintenance is just a part of information technology, and that means rebooting servers, checking network health, and more. These things should always be done outside of peak hours, but it is still important for other people or departments to be aware of when they will happen. It is also crucial that your chosen IT professional can explain complex networking issues in such a way that people in other departments can understand them. A Love for Technology Some people have a love-hate relationship with technology, but for an IT professional, technology is life. These individuals not only appreciate everything technology has brought to the table over the last several decades, but they are also passionate about keeping up with new trends and technologies that could help your company thrive. Sometimes, a simple new technology is all it takes to help your company get a leg up on the competition, and this is far more likely when you choose an IT professional who is passionate about technology. Self-Discipline For the most part, when you hire an IT professional (whether in-house or remotely) you will not be able to supervise around the clock. For this reason, choose an IT professional who is a self-starter and who can work on projects alone without supervision. This is the very definition of “dependable”; someone you can rely on to get the job done even if you are unable to answer questions or provide guidance. When combined with all the other qualities above, this individual should be perfectly capable of making decisions in the best interest of your company, as well. Hiring an IT professional can seem like a daunting task, and this is especially true if your own knowledge of IT is limited. However, whether you choose to hire someone in-house or outsource your IT needs to a company you can trust, these are all important qualities that you should look for. Ultimately, they can have a tremendous impact on your company’s success.

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Understanding Managed Anti-Spam and What It Can Do for Your Business

IT Support / Pennyrile Technologies

The effects of spam on small businesses are evident, and in some cases, they can be devastating. Fortunately, there are people on your side who want to help you avoid spam and all its risks. This is done through a service called “managed anti-spam,” which greatly reduces the risk of clicking a malicious link, propagating a virus, and more. Spam is a Leading Source of Viruses and Malicious Code These days, the criminals developing and placing things like ransomware and other types of malicious code are not just targeting big business. In fact, they increasingly go after the smaller business owners who are much less prepared to deal with these threats and who are far more likely to pay a ransom out of desperation to access their data. Spam email is a very common source for ransomware, and with every passing year, the criminals developing it seem to get smarter and smarter. They make these emails look exactly like an invoice from a client or a bill from a service provider. How Does Managed Anti-spam Work? Managed anti-spam is designed to filter out many of the tens of trillions of spam mails sent out around the world every single year. It goes far beyond the “junk mail” filter built into most email clients and instead prevents the potentially malicious email from ever even reaching your company’s network. The goal is to prevent unwanted spam, viruses, code, and other unwanted emails from reaching a place where it can do harm – your network. How Can You Benefit from Managed Anti-spam? The benefits associated with managed anti-spam are many. Reduced Operating Costs/More Productivity: When your company is not constantly fending off attacks, you and your employees can get your jobs done. You can also save money on wasted time and ensure your assets are being put to their best use. Save Storage and Bandwidth: Most companies limit email storage and bandwidth, so the more emails you have filing in during the day, the more difficult these become to manage. With managed anti-spam, the amount of bandwidth and storage you can save is astounding. Reporting: There’s a good chance you will want to know which emails are being filtered and why, so managed anti-spam comes with reporting services that can help you see in a very detailed way exactly what you are getting for your money. You’ll be shocked at the number of emails you won’t get. Aside from this, managed anti-spam indirectly protects your company’s most critical assets and information. Once some of this gets out into the world, there’s simply no recovering. By protecting yourself from spam before it ever reaches your network, you can better protect your company and help facilitate its success. Most managed anti-spam is cloud based, and the good news is that it can be tailored specifically to your industry and company needs. No matter how small your company, and no matter how long it has been operating, it is absolutely critical that you take the time to protect your email accounts today.

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The Importance of Email Security for Businesses of All Sizes

Email / Pennyrile Technologies

Today’s businesses do a lot of their communicating via email, whether they are communicating with their clients, their vendors, or even internally with other departments. This means that there’s a lot of information moving around, and if your email is not perfectly secure, that information could fall into the wrong hands. Here’s what you need to know about email security no matter how large or small your company might be. Lack of Security is a Huge Risk There’s a lot at stake these days. Even the companies charged with the task of determining your creditworthiness have been the victims of serious data breaches that have cost them millions of dollars. As a small business, you may not think you have that much at stake, but a data breach is a data breach no matter the size. Failing to properly secure your emails – especially those that contain customer or client data – can be a big mistake, and it could even cost you your business. You Need Confidentiality Confidentiality is important, particularly when dealing with things like taxes, vendors, and online shopping related to your business needs. Unfortunately, there’s quite a bit of information that can be gleaned from emails alone and failing to properly secure them with the latest encryption technologies may result in the loss of that confidentiality. What’s more, should emails fall into the wrong hands, they could easily “spoof” your company email, which can be detrimental to your business. Employees Deserve Protection If your employees utilize email at work, it is crucial that they receive some training on the best ways to protect themselves and the company. For example, they should always scan their emails for viruses, they should never open messages from senders that aren’t trusted, and they should never follow any links inside emails unless they are 100% certain of the sender’s intentions. This not only protects your business, but also your employees as they may have sensitive information on their computers that can be accessed via an email breach. Important Email Safeguards Now that you’re aware of the dangers of failing to secure your email, take a look at some of the services that will serve your company well. Anti-spam: This prevents spam from reaching your inbox in the first place, which is an added layer of protection for both you and your employees. Anti-phishing: Phishing is a real concern, so make sure the security you choose blocks malicious links, attachments, and forms. Outbound scanning: This ensures that users don’t accidentally send out a virus or reply to something malicious. Reporting: With the right reports, you’ll learn more about the biggest threats to your company and the volume of email being processed on your network. Encryption: This is the key for email safety and it ensures privacy, regulatory compliance, and more. Continuity: Prevent the accidental deletion of important messages and access your messages from anywhere with the right continuity service. Archiving: Many companies need to retain email for long periods of time for compliance reasons or just general added security. Email security is a must for any company, regardless of its size – and regardless of its age. Fortunately, you can gain access to all-in-one email security suites that will protect you, your employees, your business, and your clients from breaches that can have serious negative effects. When paired with solid network design and other security features, your company will feel like Fort Knox, and you can rest comfortably knowing that you are secure.

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5 Reasons why VoIP Will Still Be Important in 2020

Information Technology / Pennyrile Technologies

Thanks to the rise of smartphone technology, landlines are all but obsolete – at least in the consumer sector. For businesses, landlines are still very much necessary, but standard copper wires have all been replaced with VoIP service for a few very important reasons. Below are the five reasons why VoIP will still lead the pack for business phone service through 2020. #1 – International Communication is on the Rise Communication with people in other countries is what helps companies grow. Now more than ever, global markets are the very basis of success. Unfortunately, with a traditional landline, making regular hours-long calls to Europe to discuss business plans can lead to bills of thousands of dollars or more – things that small businesses just can’t afford. VoIP is internet-based, so international calls are far more affordable. #2 – It’s More Affordable in Every Way Imagine opening a brick-and-mortar location and needing 10 phones installed. Traditionally, this would mean 10 jacks and 10 lines, and this may cost thousands of dollars just to initiate – not to mention the labor costs associated with actually installing the physical hardware. With VoIP, all you need is your phones and a modem. That’s it. Everything else is easy to set up and there’s no incredibly high upfront charge. Even the monthly/quarterly service is cheaper than standard landlines, too. #3 – VoIP Is Awesome for Conference Calling While it’s true you can conference call on a landline, VoIP is the much better choice. Copper lines have serious limitations so conferencing capabilities are fairly slim. With VoIP, you can include as many people on your call as your internet speed will allow, and with so many improvements being made to VoIP with very passing year, it’s no wonder that people continue to ditch their standard providers and go with VoIP instead. #4 – The Software is Awesome With landline service, you depend almost entirely on the phone hardware to transfer calls, access voicemails, and perform everyday tasks. VoIP takes this to the next level with on-screen features that you can use to make all your calls far simpler. You can initiate calls right from your computer, listen to your voicemails all at once even when you’re away from your desk, and much more. #5 – The Scalability Can’t Be Beat As your business grows, adding more landlines can be cumbersome and expensive to say the least. What’s more, you’ll have to wait for an installer to hook up the jack before you can even start using the service. With VoIP, you can add lines yourself in some cases, and when you can’t, all it takes is a phone call to your provider. You can add 10 lines or remove 10 lines to help keep your phone plan in line with your business needs – there is no limit to the scalability. If you are still using traditional landlines for your business, now is the time to look into making the switch to VoIP. It’s cheaper, it’s better in almost every single way, and it provides you with access to features you simply cannot get with your standard phone service.

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Pennyrile Technologies

Microsoft Office 356 vs. the Free Alternatives: Why Office is Still King

A Decade from Now: 5 Predictions for the Future of IT

The Importance of Phishing Email Tests for Employees

How to Hire IT Professionals for Short-Term or Limited-Time Projects

Can Weekly Meetings Improve Internet Security in Your Place of Business?

The 4 Most Important Qualities and Skills for an IT Professional

Understanding Managed Anti-Spam and What It Can Do for Your Business

The Importance of Email Security for Businesses of All Sizes

5 Reasons why VoIP Will Still Be Important in 2020

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