PNN IT News Archives - Point North Networks

How’s Your Password Hygiene?

How’s Your Password Hygiene?

Brian Emerson2021-04-12T13:11:55+00:00

I’m not sure we need to tell you how important passwords are: they are the front-line defense to most of the accounts you create. What is often overlooked is the strategy of how to use a password to successfully protect accounts and data. Today, we will discuss best practices when creating and managing your passwords and how you are likely approaching your password strategy improperly. Creating Strong Passwords It’s true that passwords can be a pain to manage. Anyone who has been [...]

How’s Your Password Hygiene?Brian Emerson2021-04-12T13:11:55+00:00

Dangerous Android App Masquerading as System Update

Dangerous Android App Masquerading as System Update

Brian Emerson2021-04-12T13:08:02+00:00

Let’s face it, most people are glued to their phones when they have downtime. Many don’t look up to cross the street. With this much dedication to their individual mobile devices you’d think that people would be more careful about what they download. Apparently, that Instagram feed is just too distracting to worry about individual data security. Researchers from the mobile security firm Zimperium have discovered a malicious app that pretends to update your Android device, but is just spyware that [...]

Dangerous Android App Masquerading as System UpdateBrian Emerson2021-04-12T13:08:02+00:00

Tip of the Week: How to Keep Your Team from Burning Out

Tip of the Week: How to Keep Your Team from Burning Out

Brian Emerson2021-04-07T14:51:02+00:00

Considering what the past year has been like, the idea that workplace burnout has been a hot topic isn’t all that surprising—even though less time has been spent in many offices than almost any other time to date. Regardless, burnout simply isn’t an office issue, meaning that remote workers are still susceptible to its ill effects. This isn’t something that you want to encourage, so let’s go over what constitutes burnout and how to identify and address it for the benefit and [...]

Tip of the Week: How to Keep Your Team from Burning OutBrian Emerson2021-04-07T14:51:02+00:00

Why Phishing Attacks Such a Huge Risk for Your Business

Why Phishing Attacks Such a Huge Risk for Your Business

Brian Emerson2021-04-05T14:07:28+00:00

As one of the biggest cybersecurity considerations the modern business has to make, how to combat phishing has to be at the top of any business’ cybersecurity strategy. Let’s take a look at phishing and why it’s such a big problem for today’s business. You’ve Probably Been Phished When trying to explain what phishing is to someone who has no idea about it, we typically start with the namesake. Phishing is the same as fishing. A hacker will bait a hook and [...]

Why Phishing Attacks Such a Huge Risk for Your BusinessBrian Emerson2021-04-05T14:07:28+00:00

2020 Was Rough for Healthcare Where IT Was Concerned

2020 Was Rough for Healthcare Where IT Was Concerned

Brian Emerson2021-04-05T14:05:38+00:00

2020 was, obviously, a challenging year for healthcare providers. In addition to the obvious issue of the COVID-19 pandemic creating serious operational, financial, and supply chain difficulties, cybersecurity concerns didn’t go away during this time. Let’s consider some of the additional stresses that IT security needs can, will, and have placed on healthcare providers. The amount that healthcare practices invest in their cybersecurity services has been projected to exceed $65 billion in the span of time from 2017 to this year—but despite [...]

2020 Was Rough for Healthcare Where IT Was ConcernedBrian Emerson2021-04-05T14:05:38+00:00

IT Service Checklist for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

IT Service Checklist for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

Brian Emerson2021-04-01T12:45:14+00:00

Most business owners that rely on their IT have heard about managed It services. Many already subscribe to some form of outsourced IT service. It is one of the best ways to cut down your business’ operational costs while gaining value through the use of services that, if they were to be purchased intermittently, would cost a lot more. Today, we thought we’d list some of the most important variables you should consider if you are looking to choose a managed IT [...]

IT Service Checklist for Small and Medium-Sized BusinessesBrian Emerson2021-04-01T12:45:14+00:00

Android Apps Suddenly Crashing? You May Have Had a Bad Update

Android Apps Suddenly Crashing? You May Have Had a Bad Update

Brian Emerson2021-03-29T14:27:22+00:00

Google’s Android operating system has about a 71.9 percent global market share, making it the most used smartphone operating system in the world. It’s well-trusted, and although the experience differs since phone manufacturers customize Android to fit their device, generally the operating system is pretty stable. This wasn’t the case for a massive number of users around March 22nd, 2021. Around the 22nd of March, many Android users started to notice their apps crashing. Not a particular app either. Instead, [...]

Android Apps Suddenly Crashing? You May Have Had a Bad UpdateBrian Emerson2021-03-29T14:27:22+00:00

The Long and Short of Data Backup

The Long and Short of Data Backup

Brian Emerson2021-03-26T16:14:38+00:00

Having a comprehensive data backup and recovery strategy in place can absolutely save your business. This means it’s extremely important. Unfortunately, too many businesses don’t consider their backup and recovery systems until it is too late. Let’s unwrap what makes a successful backup and recovery platform work, and how to get one for your business. Many business professionals use data backup and disaster recovery as if they are interchangeable, but this is simply not the case. Data backup is the act [...]

The Long and Short of Data BackupBrian Emerson2021-03-26T16:14:38+00:00

Policies that Every BYOD Strategy Needs to Abide By

Policies that Every BYOD Strategy Needs to Abide By

Brian Emerson2021-03-24T18:55:53+00:00

One of the most effective means for a business to shave a few dollars off its budget (and potentially boost employee engagement, for that matter) is to adopt something called a Bring Your Own Device policy—effectively, an agreement that allows their team members to access business-owned documents and files on devices they personally own to get their work done. While these policies have been shown to be very effective, they also need to be carefully considered so they can be adopted appropriately. [...]

Policies that Every BYOD Strategy Needs to Abide ByBrian Emerson2021-03-24T18:55:53+00:00

An Entire Year Later, Remote Conferencing Still Makes Workers Nervous

An Entire Year Later, Remote Conferencing Still Makes Workers Nervous

Brian Emerson2021-03-22T12:55:53+00:00

For all its benefits, remote conferencing isn’t the easiest means of doing work for many people, as many have found out through experience. With businesses quite literally forced into this approach for some time now, employees are starting to feel the toll. Let’s discuss some of the impacts that long-term remote conferencing has had, and what can be done to minimize them. Conferencing Can Be Stressful… …although I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that. Widespread remote conferencing has been an [...]

An Entire Year Later, Remote Conferencing Still Makes Workers NervousBrian Emerson2021-03-22T12:55:53+00:00