Jun 20, 2018
Image Credit
Cyber terrorism and online crime is becoming moreprominent in today’s society. It’s actually one of the key areas of modern day policing and within the IT sector, security is the fastest growing and most in demand genre of skills employers and business clients are looking for.
We often only tend to hear about major scandals such as when Uber and the NHS were held at ransom last year, though there are smaller crimes committed on the web every minute, many of which are incredibly difficult to trace and cost both businesses and individuals a small fortune.
In the physical world, things are more tangible, for instance, if you had a traditional retail business you could employ a burly security guard to act as a deterrent to thieves. You could also look for conex containers for sale and store items in a secure steel storage container, whereas on the web, things are so intangible that it feels like we can’t protect things in the same way we can in the offline world.
A shop might set-up a few physical CCTV cameras and protect their stock using electromagnetic security tags or new RFID tags, and in this context, security is a very tangible thing that would-be thieves take a huge risk with, on the basis they have to present themselves and risk being caught in the act.
Today, however, cybercriminals are operating from the comfort of their own home and might not even be in the same country, meaning there’s much lower risk and much higher convenience with online theft than offline theft.
Further to this, thieves can bounce their IP around so many different locations that it would be hard to ever find their true location.
Essentially, cybercrime is growing at an exponential rate so we’re going to look at five principles to keep your business safe.
- HAVE SURVEILLANCE IN PLACE
Antivirus software protects your computer and website in a similar way to how security cameras and security guards can act as a deterrent and filter to catch thieves within a physical retail environment.
- DON’T LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN
It’s unlikely that you would leave the door open to your premises or home so that anyone could just come in. Instead, you lock the door with a unique key. The most important aspect to consider on this front is to make sure you have adequate protection against hackers trying to violate your website, and to use solid passwords.
Indeed, in the online world, your lock and key are your password – so ensure you choose an advanced password that is secure.
- USE A SECURE PAYMENT PROVIDER
You will want to use a reputable payment system such as PayPal or Stripe to process payments in a secure way. Payment processing is understandably a key target for hackers, so it’s important you ensure your website is using the latest and most advanced payment processors available in order to build trust and credibility but also to reduce your liability should disaster strike.
Jun 14, 2018
If you would like to increase your chances of career progress and financial freedom, or simply want to live a healthier and more balanced life, you don’t necessarily need to go back to college. Thanks to the improvement made in information technology, you will never have to leave your house, and still learn new tricks, even if you are an old dog. Find a list of a couple of fun courses you should take now.
Image via Grand Forks Air Force Base
Persuasive Speaking
Communication is essential for every job. No matter if you work in retail or are a stock broker, you will need to be able to persuade your potential clients, buyers, and colleagues. There are several great persuasive speaking classes available online, even free ones. You can learn to be a better communicator in just a course of a few weeks, and improve your career as well as your professional relationships.
Investments
If you are looking to achieve financial freedom, you sometimes need to take matters into your own hands. If you have no idea what is futures trading and would like to find out whether or not you have what it takes to make it in the world of investment, you can get some taster sessions that will introduce you to the main concepts and methods in less than a couple of months. It is always a good idea to seek ways to manage your finances better.
Yoga
If you are busy building your business or your career, it is important that you find an effective way to take a break, relax, and practice mindfulness. There are thousands of online yoga courses found on DailyOM that will not only teach you the basic yoga moves, but also help you get over some of the frustrations in your life, such as relationship troubles and unhealthy habits.
Creative Writing
If you have always thought about yourself as someone who has loads to say and teach other people, you can make your childhood dreams come true and learn creative writing. While you are not likely to earn a great deal of money off creative writing, you can express yourself and release stress through creating entertaining and educational stories and poems that will help others deal with their own problems.
WordPress Programming
Image via Jisc
No matter if you are a blogger, or simply want to edit your company website on the go, you can learn WordPress programming in just a few weeks. While you might want to outsource some of the tasks, you can save time and money if you know how to install an SEO plugin or change the template of your site. You can also learn some basic programming language skills that will make it easier to create your own codes for your site.
It is never too late to learn, and with the development of online training, it is easier to develop your skills and knowledge than ever before. Look for skills that you can benefit from for a long time, and set yourself a learning target for each month.
Jun 8, 2018
The role of IT in the workplace is ever spreading. It helps us manage and organize, it improves communication and resource sharing, it provides more tools for more processes, and it plays a key role in protecting the company. However, the more use our tech without prioritizing efficiency, the more it can clutter our working lives, too.
Managing different devices, different tools, and fitting it all into our work-life can end up having your IT become more of a drain on your time rather than actually helping you make better use of it. IT clutter can be dangerous, so it’s time to deal with it.
Picture
Use it with purpose
Finding the right software is often the first step in making changes to the way a process is carried out or offering the tools essential for a new role or responsibility. However, the truth is that many business owners don’t look at how essential and cost-effective it is to buy or download a piece of software before installing it. Before you look at a piece of software, make sure that you have already measured out how it can help your business, and whether it’s worth the investment. Cluttering an individual’s workday with too many different tools and having them switch from one to the other for relatively minor tasks can interrupt their workflow significantly and force them to learn to use tools that they otherwise might not need at all.
Picture
Tech needs management, too
Your IT set-up can have its fair share of problems. Needless to say, the larger the network of devices in the office, the more demanding these problems can become. If you don’t have IT guys on your team, you will soon regret it. Whether in-house or through outsourced teams like Red Key Solutions, proactive IT management is essential. If you don’t identify the security risks, the downtime potential, and take care of the routine maintenance, you are going to be spending a lot more time with tech tools that are inefficient if not entirely inaccessible.
Picture
It’s a culture thing
A business owner might be enthralled by new tech, completely ignoring the fact that their team dreads opening a new piece of software that’s been installed across the board. Tech aversion is decreasing over time, with Millennials and Gen Z people much more inclined to find digital technology intuitive. Still, if you don’t make the time to shape the culture in the office to match your IT-driven focus, you are going to be seeing lower engagement. This includes the essential training for platforms like Salesforce, as well as ongoing conversations about how to improve the use of IT in the office, including user adoption rates. Don’t expect your team to be with you on every new installation. Ensure they are by taking the time to grow to a tech-driven culture.
If you make your IT efforts much more organized and efficient, you are going to get the best out of your tech without the complications that it can otherwise cause. Don’t think that adding new tech solutions is always the answer, you need to streamline your current approach as well.
May 31, 2018
Image Source
Going off-road often involves buying a specialised off-road-worthy vehicle such as a pickup or a 4×4, however you don’t always have to buy a new vehicle. With a few modifications, you could turn your current road car into a rugged adventurer. Here are just some of the main modification to consider when heading off the tarmac.
Buy new tires
The most important upgrade you need is new tires. Off-road tires are thicker and more robust for dealing with rough terrain. They’ve also got better grip for dealing with slippery surfaces and steep gradients. There are lots of different off-road tire makes to choose from. Maxxis is one of the resilient brands – you can find out more information here: https://www.maxxis.com/tires/autolt/extreme-off-road. When heading back on the tarmac, you’ll want to switch these off-road tires for regular tires as the hard and hot surface can wear down off-road tires. It’s possible to buy hybrid tires that work on and off road, however these can be expensive.
Upgrade the suspension
Upgrading your suspension will help your vehicle to glide over bumps, making the rough terrain more comfortable and less punishing on your vehicle. There are various upgrades that you can make to your suspension. A robust rear axle could be worth fitting – you can find rear axle replacement services at sites like https://www.houstonrebuiltaxles.com/hot-rod-rear-axles.htm. On top of this, you may want to heighten your vehicle’s ride height – if you’re too close to the ground, rocks and bumps are more likely to damage the underside of your vehicle. By far the most effective upgrade that you can make to your suspension is to fit shock absorbers. A good pair of shocks will help to dampen the judders and vibrations, putting less a strain on your car’s components.
Upgrade your bumper
You may also want to toughen up your bumper – this will help if you hit a rock or bump head-on by helping to absorb the shock. Bull bars are the most effective way of guarding your bumper. There are strict rules around the world when it comes to fitting bull bars as some are thought to encourage aggressive driving – this is something worth looking into before you buy a bull bar.
Bring an unstuck kit
Off-roading can have it’s dangers and its worth preparing for emergencies where you may find yourself stranded. If you get stuck in a ditch, its useful to have a tow rope on you for other vehicle to pull you out. You can fit a tow bar for other vehicle to latch onto easily and you can even fit a winch for helping other vehicles out – you can look into tow bar fitting at sites like https://www.halfordsautocentres.com/advice/tow-bars/tow-bar-fitting. Other things to bring with you could include a shovel for digging up mud, a jerry can in case you run out of fuel and a puncture kit for fixing punctures in tires. For your own sake, you should also bring lots of snacks when venturing off-road in case you get stranded for a long period as well as a first aid kit and portable charger for keeping your phone powered up.
May 30, 2018
Medicine is a broad subject, and it’s definitely a topic of discussion as of late. In fact, medicine has been a topic of discussion for many years, and the way in which it has changed is just fascinating. Without medicine, or without the advancements of medicine that we have made, there’s no telling where we would be in the world today. For one, we definitely wouldn’t be able to cure illnesses, and save lives as we’re able to do today. But, as good as medicine is, there’s always a downside to everything, and there definitely is when it comes to medicine. More and more people are falling ill, having poor treatment, or being denied treatment. So what’s causing this? Well, this article is here to investigate some of the main causes, and how we can make a change in medicine.
Image Source
Medical Negligence
If you fall mercy to the hands of medical negligence, then we know you’re going to be struggling through a tough time. It doesn’t even have to be you, it could be someone that you know or love going through an issue with it. Medical negligence can mean many different things. It could mean lack of treatment whilst in hospital, ignorance towards a medical issue, or just poor treatment in general. Medical negligence accounts for a small percentage of death across the world, but no matter how small the percentage, it shouldn’t be happening! A lawyer for medical negligence would be the person to contact if you were ever to go through something like this. No matter what type of medical negligence you succumb to, you’re always going to be due some form of compensation, especially if it impacted your recovery or diagnosis.
The Fight Against Cancer
If we want to make a change in medicine, then there’s no better place to try and start than with the fight against cancer. Cancer is something that has touched the lives of many people, including those of you who are reading this now. But the strides that have been made to ensure we’re getting closer to a cure, or closer to preventing it, is just amazing! If we want to make a change in medicine, however, more has got to be to actually find a cure. They said that cancer research is a multi-billion dollar industry, so maybe more has to be done with the allocation of the funds that are being spent? All we know is, we’re creeping closer and closer to a cure every day!
A Dying Love For The Profession
As much as medicine is a fascinating subject, it is dying out in terms of interest from the people willing to go into the profession. At the minute, the pay is just not good enough, and the hours that people are expected to work is just shooting up. There’s so much effort needed to complete a shift successfully, and so much to be done if things such as medical negligence want to be avoided!
So, what do you think is in store with us in terms of the future of medicine. Let us know what you think!
May 25, 2018
A good marketing campaign is at the heart of all successful businesses. Good staff is one of the things that makes a brilliant marketing department but it’s not the whole picture. There are so many amazing marketing tools out there and if you’re not making good use of them, you won’t get the best results possible. These are the marketing tools that all businesses need to be using.
Pxhere
Social Media Scheduling
If you don’t know by now that social media is vital to your marketing campaign, you need a reality check. Even if you do know that, you might not be getting it right. When you’re writing social media posts there are so many things to consider. You need to get the tone right, make sure you’re building a following of the right customers, and create great content to post. But even if you get all of that spot on, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll find success. The time of day that you post on social media is more important than a lot of people realise. The best time of day to post depends on the type of business and the platform so there’s no simple formula. In general, you need to think about when people are most likely to be actively scrolling through their news feed. Social media scheduling tools are great for this because you can set up all of your posts at the beginning of the week and put them out at times when you’re most likely to get a good response. It also saves you a lot of time because you can do it all on one day rather than spending time setting up posts every single day. Visit https://hootsuite.com/en-gb/ for one of the best ones out there right now. You can get a 30-day free trial to see how it could benefit you.
Email Marketing Software
Email marketing is one of the best ways to get repeat customers which is why every business should be making good use of it. Creating great newsletters with details of your latest products and any developments in the business is the best way to keep customers coming back time and time again. People often think that it’s easy, just write an email and send it out but there’s more to it than that. That’s why you need good email marketing software to help you build a subscriber list and create emails that get results. You can find the best one at https://www.palomasoftware.com/postman/. You can use it to reach the right people with marketing materials that will inspire sales.
CRM Software
Customer relationship management software is an absolute must if you want to give good customer service. It helps you to track any interaction that you have with customers and what the outcome is. That information is so valuable because it can help you to identify the aspects of your customer service that need updating so you can always give customers the best possible service.
If you want to get good results from your marketing campaigns, you need to make good use of these incredible tools.
Recent Comments