Preferred Blog

Network hubs, network switches, network routers… What does it all even mean? All of these devices and terms can be confusing, and to some, they might even be interchangeable. However, the fact remains that they all serve different purposes, and some might not be the right solution for your business’ needs. Today, we want to break down the differences and when you might consider one over the other for your infrastructure.

Today is the first day of the post-Windows 10 era, and if you are still running a PC with the popular operating system, trouble could be ahead if you don’t make a move immediately. In today’s blog, we will talk about your options going forward. Let’s get right into it.

How does your business use virtualization? We guarantee you that at least part of your infrastructure is virtualized to some degree, even if you don’t realize it. From hardware infrastructure to your desktop infrastructure, there are plenty of options for how your business can leverage virtualization for considerable impact.

It’s easy to skimp here and there when you run a business. After all, it isn’t cheap, and you have to make difficult decisions every day for where you’re prioritizing your spending. One area where you can’t scrimp on a substandard investment is your technology; especially an old computer that has broken down over and over again. If you’re not careful, that broken computer could be holding you back and costing you profit.

If you want your devices to keep running smoothly, including utility and security, you need to ensure they are updated. Updates sometimes cause problems beyond what they solve, however. What looks like a routine patch or update could impact your important applications, and if you’re not careful, you could potentially cause a downtime scenario simply by being proactive with your updates.

Does your business really still use that old fax machine? Chances are, it’s just taking up space and costing your business valuable time, money, and resources that would be better spent elsewhere. Let’s look at how a fax machine can actively hold your business back, both in terms of operations and budget.

No one likes the feeling of being plugged into work all the time. Not even the most diligent employees will appreciate receiving an email after hours. Yet despite this feeling, there’s an unspoken expectation that you are always on, so to speak, especially with the advent of mobile technology and remote work. How can you prevent these issues from escalating into burnout?

Synergy. Paradigm shift. Disruption. There are so many buzzwords saturating modern business jargon nowadays, including and especially “digital transformation.”

Unfortunately, “digital transformation” sounds big and, worse, expensive… especially for our small and medium-sized business neighbors. We wanted to step in and assure you that this is not the case and that any business can benefit from it, provided it is approached correctly and mindfully.

It feels good to use tools you’re familiar with, but there comes a time when old tools start to hold you back. You might start to see unexpected costs that only surface over time. Let’s take a look at how you can know when it’s time to update your business’ tech and some of the hidden costs associated with not updating it.

There are a lot of file types that are put to use in the modern workplace, all with their own importance. Let’s review what the different file extensions—the little series of letters after the file name—mean, and how they influence how you can use a given file.

Modern technology practically revolves around USB, but what do you really know about what goes on inside the cables and connectors? Let’s explore some of these minute details and see if we can achieve a new appreciation for this technology.

Is your business data hard to get to, like it's locked away and only a few people have the key? That can really hold your business back. Imagine if everyone on your team could easily use all the data you create and collect to make better decisions, faster. That's what data democratization is all about, and it’s a powerful tool. In today’s blog we briefly discuss how it works. 

This summer, do you plan on getting away from the office for a bit? If so, we have some technology tips for you to help you stay safe and secure while on the go. Here are three ways you can prepare for travel with the right technology.

Remember the days of watching a loading bar slowly crawl across the screen? Or maybe that distinct screech of a dial-up modem connecting? While technology has rocketed forward since then, some businesses still cling to an outdated approach when it comes to managing their IT: the break-fix method.

This means waiting for something to go wrong—a server crash, a software glitch, a security breach—before calling for help. It might seem cost-effective initially, but this reactive stance is becoming increasingly risky and wasteful.

You might remember the good old days of software, and by “good old days,” we mean “good old days of tedium, installing software on computers one by one.” 

Software as a Service, or SaaS for short, has put an end to those days and has made way for better options for SMBs. Today, we want to look into these subscription-based tools and showcase their benefits.

If given the opportunity, would you rather manage a room full of big, bulky servers to maintain an in-house data network, or would you prefer to decentralize your infrastructure to make it more accessible, redundant, and secure? A data center can help you do just that, and it’s not nearly as difficult or as complicated as you might think to utilize one.

Think about running a small or medium-sized business. It's like trying to juggle a million things at once. You're super focused on keeping your customers happy, making sure your team is doing well, and, of course, making money. Among all of that, there is something that often gets overlooked: the technology that makes all of your efforts possible.

Technology is the engine driving success in our community. From managing daily operations to engaging customers, reliable IT is no longer optional. Keeping that engine finely tuned—ensuring hardware, software, and networks are always up-to-date—presents a significant challenge. Technology evolves at lightning speeds, and managing it can feel like a constant, resource-draining battle, pulling you away from focusing on your core business.

Is your current IT setup empowering your growth, or is it quietly creating risks that could derail your progress? Many businesses operate with technology that feels "good enough," unaware of the hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface.

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is great. It can be a pivotal tool to help you transform your business’ communications infrastructure, provided you implement it with intention. Today, we want to share three of the biggest benefits your business can expect to enjoy from switching to a VoIP solution.

An expiration date helps to make sure you aren’t buying fast-turning foods at the grocery store, and now, the technology industry is making strides to establish a similar standard. A new industry report recommends new legislation pushing for End-of-Life (EoL) disclosure, which would, in theory, allow businesses and consumers alike to make more informed purchasing decisions. What does this mean for your business?