Blog

Have you ever wondered what a firewall is? Before sitting down to read this you’d be forgiven for only hearing about them in espionage thrillers. Don’t be fooled, firewalls are a vital part of keeping you and your network secure from malicious attacks. Simply put, firewalls are software or hardware dedicated to monitoring entry points on a computer (ports) from external devices, like other computers on the network. Based on rules and filters, the firewall either allows or denies access depending on the information collected by their IP address. In the next few paragraphs, we’ll go over a basic understanding of each type of firewall, and the pros and cons of each. Types of firewalls 1. Packet Filtering firewall Packet Filtering firewalls monitor junction points on your network such as the router. The firewall monitors packets of information and decides whether or not a message is dangerous. The advantage of this type of firewall is it can scan packets fast, it’s less taxing on your network and it’s generally less expensive to set up. 2. Circuit level gateway  Circuit level gateways monitor TCP handshakes and other network messages as sessions between the network and an outside source are created. Based on...

A VPN or virtual private network is something you might not think you need if you're not in the tech industry. But every individual and business that works on the internet could benefit from a VPN. If you’re an avid traveller, enjoy working in your local café, or just watching Netflix at home, a VPN can help secure your sensitive information and make your online browsing safer. A VPN masks your IP address, encrypts data, and reroutes it through secure networks, protecting your anonymity and security. But beyond the general safety concerns, what are some tangible reasons you should invest in a VPN? 1.      VPNs Offer Extra Security on Public Wi-Fi Networks   The fact that public Wi-Fi is less secure is not a secret, but it’s a part of everyday life. Whether you’re in a waiting room, at a Starbucks, in a hotel, or any public Wi-Fi, chances are you’re connecting to their network – but they’re more vulnerable to security breaches, phishing, and malware attacks. VPNs protect your passwords when you sign in to your accounts, hide your browsing history, and shield your banking information from malicious spying. So you can enjoy your online shopping from anywhere without worrying...

 Your email account is a wealth of personal information. Work emails, personal emails, account information, and sensitive data can all be targets of hackers with malicious intent. Whether you know, or just suspect, someone hacked your email account, you have to act quickly with these steps to secure your data and regain control. What Should You Do If Your Email Gets Hacked? There are several steps you should take to be extra safe in re-securing your accounts – you can never be too careful. 1.      Conduct a Deep Antivirus Scan Your email can act as a gateway for hackers to access your computer. Malware like Trojans, keyloggers, and spyware can track every move you make on your device that hackers can exploit. They can potentially get access to your banking information and make money transfers that you haven’t authorized. Running a thorough antivirus scan as soon as you suspect a hack can wipe away malware before it causes too much damage. 2.      Change Your Passwords and Security Questions Following your scan, you should change all your passwords to be safe – not only your email password, but you should change any account that's connected to payments. Secure your bank accounts, online...

Managed service providers can be an essential part of your business – outsourcing your technology needs to them can relieve a strain on the daily operations of any business. But researching a managed service provider that aligns with your needs is an essential step to take before committing to a provider.  How do you know which managed service provider will be a good fit? Here are some basic questions to ask them to learn their services and processes.  Can We Add or Remove Managed Service Offerings as My Business Needs Change?   Finding a managed service provider who is open to flexibility is important to any growing business. As you develop your systems and processes, you’ll find your needs may change, so anticipate these alterations in advance and make plans for any future adjustments.  Who Will Have Access to My Data?   No matter how sensitive your data is, its protection is vital for your business – that's partly why you're seeking a managed service provider. But it's crucial for your peace of mind to know who can access your data. Building a rapport with that person will put a face to the company managing your data. ...

The cloud has been instrumental in driving the digital shift in the business world. Cloud computing is a critical enabler for innovation, customer experience, and cost reduction.  While the adoption of the cloud is accelerating, many businesses don’t understand the requirements and limitations of cloud consumption.  Cloud offers many advantages, such as: Mobile and remote access to informationBusiness resiliencyCost savings on hardwareTime savings for your IT departmentScalabilityBuilt-in security and compliance tools   Moving your data and applications onto the cloud is a multi-step process. This means you need to plan effectively and ahead of time for a successful migration. Three ways to ensure successful cloud migration: Hire an Efficient and Capable IT Team   Cloud services are in high demand, which has created a shortage of qualified people to do the work. Cloud projects succeed when you and your cloud provider bring their A team to the grid. If you’re not getting the right people, you risk an inferior outcome. Choose What Belongs on The Cloud   Not all apps are cloud friendly. Some apps may need minor tweaking while others need in-depth code changes. A full analysis of complexity and implementation is easier to do before the migration...

Email has been one of the primary correspondence methods for businesses for several years. In addition to communicating with your team, clients, and peers, emails also bring you the latest blog in a subscription, or sales and marketing messages from prospective vendors. With dozens of emails flowing in throughout your day, emails can become a distraction that results in a significant loss of productivity. These three tips can help you cut down on time that you waste when compulsively checking your emails.

The 18 Highest Paying IT Industry Certifications in 2016 – Canadian Edition   Introduction: Canadian IT Industry Facts Before we get to the IT certifications and salary ranges, we want to highlight the growing demand for more professionals in this this industry. There is a real pressing shortage of IT professionals in Canada, and the world (we reported on the world-wide shortage of IT professionals here earlier this year). Salaries in this industry are very generous, and rising faster than almost every other industry. According to Robert Half Technology, IT salaries in Canada are rising at an average of 5.1% annually. Accordingly, job qualifications are also increasing, creating more demand for certification programs and higher skilled professionals. If there was ever any doubt about the importance of the IT Industry in Canada today, the facts show just how important it really is. There were about 811,000 information communication and technology professionals employed in Canada at the end of 2015, according to the IT Labour Market Outlook 2015-2019 produced by the Information Communication Technology Council (ICTC).  While these numbers ~seem~ high, it also calculates that Canada will require an additional 182,000 qualified IT professionals by 2019—to fill positions for information systems analysts...

Cyber Security Industry Shifting to Crisis Mode as Jobs Go Unfilled   The dramatic rise in cybercrime is affecting governments, companies, NPO and industry organizations of all sizes around the globe, but that’s just the beginning. The trend lines started in 2007 to 2013 when Cyber security job postings started growing at double the growth rate of all IT jobs. The labour pool has never caught up. Today, there are over 200,000 unfilled cyber security jobs in the U.S. alone. Cisco estimates that globally there are over one million cyber security job vacancies today. Michael Brown, Symantec’s CEO, expects demand to rise to 6 million positions by 2019, with a shortfall of 1.5 million. What does that mean? So far in 2016, the Enterprise Strategy Group says “46% of organizations now claim that they have a problematic shortage of cybersecurity skills representing an 18% year-over-year increase.” It means that cyber security teams are understaffed in many places, making it difficult to properly protect their organization’s networks. This news comes at a bad time. 2015 is already identified as the being the worse year ever for cyber crime, with nearly 1,000 major data breaches and countless others.  In Canada, PwC says “Cybersecurity incidents...

The Real Reasons Why Managed IT Services Are Growing So Fast What You Really Want to Know The managed IT services industry is expected to growing at an astounding rate of 12.5% annually through to 2019 to a value of $193 billion worldwide. Which is pretty significant when in 2012, the industry was predicted to reach about $45 billion by 2016. Managed services are described as skilled outsourcing functions that transfer some, or all in-house functionalities to be managed by a third-party managed service provider. The outsourced services are typically provided for a single monthly payment on a subscription basis. JDL Technologies published a survey in January 2016 survey of IT executives that provides some insights into the use of managed services and managed service providers.  The most astounding facts for me were the following about cost savings: The average cost benefits reported by surveyed companies who switch to managed services range from: Average Annual Savings = 30%-40%, and Average IT Efficiency Increase = 50%-60% The same was found for companies adding managed services to existing in-house IT capabilities, according to “Managed Services Market” by Managed Data Center. You would think that the cost savings would be the main reason companies decide to sign...

25 Signs You May Need a Managed IT Services Partner …even if you already have an in-house IT department   IT management is not always on the “top-of-mind” for most executive teams. That’s probably best for most companies—it could mean everything is running as smooth as a well-oiled machine and there are no issues or emergencies screaming for your attention. Increasingly for many companies today, the reality is often different. In the last six months I’ve heard the words “chaotic”, “lacking”, “falling behind” and “embarrassingly outdated” to describe existing network infrastructures from new clients. These companies’ data systems were clearly at risk. Obviously, the best time to review your IT needs is long before you hear these words. But how do you know you’re a good candidate for Managed IT Services? We thought it would be helpful to give you some helpful clues here that you may need a managed IT services partner. Or maybe a better IT services partner. If you’ve ever heard any of these following comments in your organization, it’s time for a review. Here they are: our top 25 clues you may need a managed services partner Listen for any of these or similar comments… The exchange...

Practical IT Budget Tips for Making Your Work Life Easier “There’s got to be an easier way” may be a worn out cliché, but it’s seldom heard more often than in an IT department at budgeting time. Some people might enjoy it, but for most, the annual department budget is a real chore—yet so necessary. Believe me when I say that for IT departments, the annual budget can be a double-chore. It’s not just that Information Technology is more technical, with its evolving systems, hardware and software to account for. It’s the nature of our industry that unexpected “surprises” and events require frequent revisions, reviews and emergency upgrades during our budget periods. Plus we have no control over how often our system vendors provide software and driver updates, vulnerability patches, and bug-fixes that are becoming more frequent as the hacking world gets more dangerous and complex.   So here they are, our 9 Truly Practical [Year-Round] IT Budget Tips that will make your work life easier... (Editor’s note: Our thanks to Tech Pro Research who originally published much of our inspiration here in their annual CIO’s Guide)   The annual IT Budget may be a once-a-year exercise, but our tips here are easy things...