PSPINC Official Company Blog

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!

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

2019 Tech Trends: 5G is Here

1月

15日

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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.

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

2019 Tech Trends: Virtual Money Exchange

1月

10日

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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!

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

2019 Tech Trends: Home IoT

1月

8日

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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.

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

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.