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2019 Tech Trends: Increased Cyber Threats

1月

17日

image source: pixabay.com

We’ve been talking about tech trends for 2019 and all the exciting advances in technology, including increased speed and connectivity of our gadgets. But all this advancement comes with a price as we become increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks.

In 2017, Equifax had a breach that affected sensitive personal information for 143 million customers. In 2018, information was hacked from 50 million Facebook users and 500 million customers of Marriott and Starwood hotels.

According to cybersecurityventures.com and cybintsolutions.com, 64% of U.S. companies have experienced web-based attacks, 62% experienced phishing and social engineering attacks, 59% experienced malicious code and botnets, and 51% experienced denial of service attacks. Hackers are getting more organized and sophisticated, so what can we do to protect our data?

In business, we must understand there is no such thing as “hacker safe” data. Just as a thief can break the window to steal your cash register, hackers can break the security measure you have in place. In our buildings, we install security systems and place valuable items like cash and expensive merchandise in secure locations. So what do we do with our equally valuable client data? Simply hoping nobody will steal it from your database is not the right answer. And it’s imperative you have a plan in place in the event your data does get hacked – even if you think you have all the right security measures in place.

If you don’t know where to start, consult an expert or call us at PSPinc for more help to secure your data and come up with a plan. At the basic level, make sure your customers’ important data is stored in a secure database, preferably encrypted, and have tools that monitor who’s accessing the data. Do not give a critical password to a bunch of employees, and do not keep the password on a Post-It note by your desk. If you notice anything suspicious, go back and check your data access activity logs.

With our way of life becoming more virtually connected, we have to embrace the responsibilities and potential threats that come with it. Always be prepared!

#ENnews #PSPinc #Blog #Marketing #Advertising #B2B #SmallBusiness #OfficeTips #2019 #NewYear #TechTrends #Technology #2019Tech #CyberThreats #CyberSecurity

2019 Tech Trends: 5G is Here

1月

15日

image source: pixabay.com

Do you remember a time when pictures would download bit by bit and we were all amazed at how fast our internet had become, so much so, we could see images online instead of just text? How quickly we’ve forgotten those exciting times – now with instant downloads and streaming video. Well, it’s time to buckle up and get ready for even faster internet speed because 5G is coming to town!

5G is a new generation of cellular communication standards – the fifth generation, if that wasn’t already obvious. As the successor of 2G, 3G, and 4G (or LTE / WiMax), 5G is going to speed things up quite a bit.

But how much faster will it be, really? Well, without getting technical, download speeds will go from minutes to seconds and even milliseconds. For example, it would take about 10 to 20 seconds to download a 1-minute video on your smartphone with 4G, but with the new 5G connection, your download would be 0.001 second or less! Downloading hi-quality streaming videos will go from several minutes to a matter of seconds. It will also reduce lag time for things like web searches, giving you more immediate responses.

All service providers have begun rolling out 5G throughout the world. In the latter half of 2019 into 2020, major cities will have 5G service ready for you. In Japan, 5G will be available just in time for the Tokyo Olympics!

But wait - are YOU ready to get 5G service on your device? Not quite. Unfortunately, living in an area where 5G is available isn’t enough. Eventually, you’ll have to upgrade to a device that is 5G compatible.

#ENnews #PSPinc #Blog #Marketing #Advertising #B2B #SmallBusiness #OfficeTips #2019 #NewYear #5G #TechTrends #2019Tech #Technology

2019 Tech Trends: Virtual Money Exchange

1月

10日

image source: pixabay.com

Money is defined in Wikipedia as “a medium of exchange, a unit of account, a store of value and sometimes, a standard of deferred payment.”

Let’s talk about money -- literally and virtually. Transactions boomed with the rise of credit cards, but with the convenience of emerging “digital wallet” programs like Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo, Google Wallet, and Facebook, we're heading into next-level consumerism.

Money has always been exchanged with cash, checks or cards, but this year we’ll see the rise of the digital transaction. According to Juniper Research, in 2019 an estimated 2.1 billion consumers will make payments or wire money via digital wallets, a growth of almost 30% over 1.6 billion users last year.

The biggest difference between your credit/debit card and the digital wallet is really in the ease of transaction. If a friend or merchant has an account with your digital wallet provider, such as PayPal, then you can easily wire them money using their name or email. No need for the merchant to run your credit card number through a machine. And no need to give your friend cash to split half the dinner bill. Or write your nanny a check for her services. The digital wallet system cuts out a step and can be done from anywhere at any time for your convenience.

The most recognizable service is PayPal. But the major banks are in the game now, forming an alliance and launching a similar service called Zelle. Missing out on an opportunity from PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet, these banks (Bank of America, BB&T, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo are the owner of the service company) are also making your 2019 transactions quick, easy and secure!

#ENnews #PSPinc #Blog #Marketing #Advertising #B2B #SmallBusiness #OfficeTips #2019 #NewYear #DigitalWallet #PayPal #Zelle #GoogleWallet

2019 Tech Trends: Home IoT

1月

8日

image source: pixabay.com

The battle to tap into your home was big in 2018, between smart speakers and home security systems gaining popularity. Amazon and Google have been going head to head for your attention in order to become the platform for IoT in your home. We predict this competition will continue with ferocity in 2019.

The key players are trying to integrate their devices into your home’s daily functions. Some of them are creating hubs, like Amazon’s Echo Show or Google’s Home Hub. The smart home hub would be able to control devices such as your thermostat, lights, garage doors, doorbell, security system, maybe even your cooking devices and laundry machine. The hub would control your home’s IoT, and eventually learn your behavioral patterns.

But why do they want to know so much about you?

The more they know, the more they can influence and control your purchasing habits. They can offer you what you need, in the moment in your home, and be the one to provide the item. Google can advertise a product on behalf of its advertising client, and Amazon can show products to be purchased right from its platform.

Even though these platforms are made for our convenience, when it comes down to it, we humans still need to think critically and make wise choices. Understanding the motive behind home hubs and IoT in our homes can help us outsmart the smart devices and make the right decisions before clicking that 'buy now' button.

#ENnews #PSPinc #Blog #Marketing #Advertising #B2B #SmallBusiness #TechTrends #OfficeTips #2019 #NewYear #Technology #EdgeComputing #2019TechTrends

2019 Tech Trends: Edge Computing

1月

3日

image source: pixabay.com

In 2018, we saw the rise of “Internet of Things” (aka: IoT), which is basically the connectivity of all our devices to each other via the cloud and network systems. The other growing phenomena is “Artificial Intelligence” or AI. IoT and AI are working together to shape our future and make everything we touch smarter – even our homes and vehicles!

So what should we expect in 2019?

Even if you aren’t in an industry where you need the latest and greatest technology right away, it’s important for business owners to be aware of growing trends in technology, because at some point, we all have to adapt to what’s popular. In this blog series, we’ll cover some new tech trends to watch in 2019.

You’re probably familiar with “the cloud.” Today the cloud hosts an enormous amount of data on a global scale. As the physical distance between the user and the cloud increases, transmission times increase. If the user has a slower or older device, that can slow down processing speeds even more. This is where “edge computing” comes in to save the day, and it’s our hot tech trend to watch in 2019.

Instead of relying solely on the cloud, edge computing allows some apps and data to be processed on smaller “edge of the cloud” servers, closer in proximity to the user. Carriers and service providers are taking pressure off their centralized data centers in the cloud through these edge servers. By moving smaller, localized data centers to the edge of the cloud, closer to consumers, it speeds up data processing and response times. Information, such as local traffic, doesn’t have to be processed outside of its region, making distribution faster and more efficient to local users.

#ENnews #PSPinc #Blog #Marketing #Advertising #B2B #SmallBusiness #TechTrends #OfficeTips #2019 #NewYear #Technology #EdgeComputing #2019TechTrends

5 Work Place Resolutions For 2019

12月

27日

image source: pixabay.com

Map the Year Ahead

Take a few minutes and write down your biggest goals for the New Year. Then break them down into smaller goals. And then even smaller goals, all the way down to tiny bit-sized goals you can easily accomplish. Accountability is crucial, so make sure you write down when you want to finish each goal (quarter, month, or day). The more specific you can get, the better. Jotting down big, yearly goals can make them feel out of reach. By dissecting them into smaller achievable goals, you can build your confidence with each check mark!

Tomorrow’s To-Do list, Today

A great habit to get into is writing down what you need to do tomorrow before you leave work today. It can help alleviate some of the stress you might bring home from work and help you get laser focused the next morning. Then, when you get into the office you can run through your list again and jump right back in where you left off.

Learn to Say No

Some of us get into the habit of saying yes to everything, even if we really don’t have time. This year, work on saying no (politely!) instead of taking on more work than you can handle. You don’t always have to say no, but sometimes you need to. It’ll allow you to have more time to produce the best quality work on the projects you already have. It may seem uncomfortable at first, but it gets easier!

Treat Yourself

Some mornings you just know it’s not going to be your day. It can be challenging to come into work, focus, and get things done. Whether you’re running late, in a cranky mood, or just out of whack, take a moment and treat yourself. It can be as simple as listening to your favorite song, stopping for an overpriced latte, or getting an extra doughnut from the kitchen. You’ll be surprised at how taking a moment for you can turn around your day.

Have Professional Courage

When we think about courage, we don’t often equate it to work. This year challenge yourself to have more professional courage. What does that mean? Take yourself out of your comfort zone and try to grow in other areas of your professional life. This could mean taking on a new project you aren’t entirely comfortable with, or it could be attending networking events and meeting new people. That thing that makes your stomach a bit queasy and your hands sweaty, try it! Challenging yourself professionally is the only way to grow and 2019 is your year to do it.

#ENnews #PSPinc #Blog #Marketing #Advertising #B2B #SmallBusiness #OfficeGoals #NewYearsResolutions #OfficeTips #2019 #NewYear

PSPinc 2018 Year In Review

12月

20日

image source: pixabay.com

Data Center Move

The beginning of 2018 brought big changes for our company as we began to move our data center in downtown Seattle. Over the course of a few months we disassembled the existing data center – removing racks and cords and replacing hardware. We set up Ethernet cables, power cords, and installed new switches. It was quite the process. We now have a new data center, still in downtown Seattle, which we manage remotely from our headquarters in Bellevue.

Dream Big Contest

We love to hear from our customers and see how their businesses are developing and growing. This summer we held a contest to see which of our customers had the best designed website. After all the submissions were in, we took an office-wide vote and chose three winners. The winners were gifted an iPad, Alexa Echo Dot, and Beats by Dre headphones.

PSPinc 31st Anniversary

The end of summer brought another milestone for our company. Last year we celebrated our 30th Anniversary with a huge company dinner and video created by RB Content labs. Saturday July 7th we made it to our 31st Anniversary. We’re proud to continue serving our customers and representing the great state of Washington.

PSP Children’s Foundation Golf Tournament

Each year the PSP Children’s Foundation hosts a charity golf tournament at the beautiful Aldarra Golf Club. This year we had a fantastic turnout on August 13th, raising thousands of dollars to put into five scholarships for business students at the University of Washington. We are truly honored to host such an amazing event with lots of great partners, participants, and the support of the local community.

#ENnews #PSPinc #Blog #Marketing #Advertising #B2B #SmallBusiness #NewYear #2018 #YearinReview #YearEnd

SEO Trends For 2019

12月

18日

image source: pixabay.com

Mobile First

Mobile traffic has only recently surpassed desktop traffic around the world. Which means Google needs to adjust how they look at and rank websites. How do they plan on doing this? Google announced “Mobile first indexing” – which basically means if you have a desktop and mobile version of your website, Google will look at the mobile site first.

In 2019, you’ll want to make sure your mobile website is optimized for small screens and fingertips. But remember, it’s mobile first, not mobile only, so don’t ignore your desktop website either.

Website Security

Website security has made countless headlines in 2018 and it will continue to be important into the New Year. Google checks websites for an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) which indicates whether a website is secure or not. Websites without this certificate will be labeled ‘Not Secure’ by Google search results. Don’t have an SSL certificate? Don’t worry, PSPinc offers SSL certificates!

Video Carousels

In the past when you searched for videos on Google you had three thumbnails to choose from. Now, Google is expanding the video search results to show a carousel of multiple videos. This expands the amount of videos that can be listed for each Google search. Video marketing has been growing over the past few years. Google realizes that users are searching for videos so they’ve made changes to reflect that.

Going Beyond Google

According to a 2018 survey done by Adeptmind (https://adeptmind.ai), the number of shoppers who start their search on Amazon is 46.7%. That’s more than 10% higher than those who start their search on Google, 34.6%. If your company sells products online, it’s important to expand your reach beyond Google searches. It’s not where people start their online shopping anymore and that trend will continue into 2019.

Local Search Geo-targeting

Attracting local customers is becoming increasingly targeted and will keep heading that direction next year. When updating your website content try to be as specific as you can about your location, even including cross streets instead of broad suburbs. A great way to help with local search is by running highly targeted ads to specific neighborhoods and areas surrounding your business.

#ENnews #PSPinc #Blog #Marketing #Advertising #B2B #SmallBusiness #OnlineMarketing #Google #Amazon #SEO #OfficeTips #2019 #NewYear

Give your Desktop a Fresh Start for 2019

12月

13日

image source: pixabay.com

When your desktop is so cluttered, you can no longer view the wallpaper or picture you set as the background, that’s a clear indication it’s time to organize and purge some files.

The fact is if you haven’t opened any of those files within the last 12 months, you should file/archive them into folders, or simply delete them. Not only will you be able to find things easier, feeling organized can lead to less stress and improved mood. It makes sense that when things are in order, you’d feel good about that!

Consider these simple tips for cleaning and organizing so you can start fresh in 2019:

- Clean up your desktop files first so you can view that nice wallpaper/picture background.
- Empty your recycle bin on your computer and your junk mail, clutter, and deleted items in your email program?
- Check your downloads folder. All the files you download from your email and browsers are stored there, which can take up a lot of space – until you go in and purge.
- Delete programs you don’t use.
- Organize your photos into folders by subject or year, or both, and delete duplicates.
- Consider investing in a utility software like Clean My Mac (Mac) or AVG PC TuneUp (Windows) that helps you clean up your files and programs.

In 2019 work smarter, not harder! The first step in doing so is organizing your workspace – both physical and digital. Take some time to clean up, purge, archive, organize, file, and go into the New Year feeling optimistic for what’s ahead.

#ENnews #PSPinc #Blog #Marketing #Advertising #B2B #SmallBusiness #Email #Inbox #Desktop #OfficeTips #2019 #NewYear

Tips for Organizing your Desktop Computer

12月

11日

image source: pixabay.com

Nowadays, everything is electronic. File folders on our computers act like file folders we used to have in actual cabinets. But just like our filing cabinets of old used to get messy with paper documents, our computers can get cluttered with electronic documents. It’s time to clean up so we can find things easier.

Here are some tips to consider when filing documents:

Use/Label Folders. Think of organizing folders on your drive like you would organize folders in an old cabinet or file box. For example, create a folder for each year by simply naming it 2019 or 2018. Work within the current year’s folder, but files from previous years will be easy to find when needed.

Use Special Characters. Your computer will sort file names alphabetically, but if you want to beat that system and sort a file or a folder above the rest, consider using special characters (i.e. ! @ # $) or numbers to your advantage. By placing ! in front of your folder name, such as, !Holiday_Party, you’ve now bumped it up ahead of the folder titled, Employee_Policies. Use this filing strategy when you’ll want easy access to a file or folder that would otherwise be pushed down the list. Also note that your computer will categorize folders with special characters in the order the symbols appear on your keyboard, so 1)! 2)@ 3)# and so on.

Tag Files. Certain software programs like Microsoft Office will let you add information to your file, beyond what you name it. From the file menu, if you view properties you’ll see where you can add a title, tags (keywords), and comments. Adding these elements to your document will make it easier to find when using the advanced search feature.

A cluttered desktop can result in frustration and time wasted more than anything. Start the New Year fresh with some new strategies for naming your folders and filing your documents.

#ENnews #PSPinc #Blog #Marketing #Advertising #B2B #SmallBusiness #Organizing #OfficeTips #2019 #NewYear

PSPinc Official Company Blog

フリースペース

2019 Tech Trends: Increased Cyber Threats

2019 Tech Trends: 5G is Here

2019 Tech Trends: Virtual Money Exchange

2019 Tech Trends: Home IoT

2019 Tech Trends: Edge Computing

5 Work Place Resolutions For 2019

PSPinc 2018 Year In Review

SEO Trends For 2019

Give your Desktop a Fresh Start for 2019

Tips for Organizing your Desktop Computer

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