IT Services in Washington DC: Efficient, Easy, and Affordable Way to Grow Business

Modern businesses are heavily reliant on technology. Big or small, every enterprise requires effective IT services Washington DC to make sure that their systems are working optimally to achieve their goals as an organization. When your IT network offers reliability and optimal efficiency, your business can stay competitive and even ahead of your rivals. Professional IT management can help bring you up-to-date with all the latest tech trends, innovations, and strategies, while cutting back on the cost of having to maintain an in-house team of similar-caliber IT professionals and experts. Only with updated systems can a business be flexible and resilient to the changing needs of markets and industries because clients always choose businesses that go with the times and show dedication by addressing their demands when it comes to increased reliability and streamlined operations. 

With managed IT services Washington DC, businesses benefit from more effective data management. Businesses nowadays rely on big data. However, the large influx of information can easily overwhelm an outdated network. Fortunately, managed IT service providers can ensure efficient storage, management, and analysis of all data that goes through your company’s network, eliminating many threats to data security, while allowing better decision making with the help of proper data analysis. 

Small business IT support Washington DC is also beneficial as it allows businesses access to the right tools, technology, as well as hardware and software applications that help them better collect, store, and analyze information, solve complex problems, and plan scalability. Also importantly, IT support partners provide utmost safety and security from compromising attacks, viruses, and malicious software. They can help ensure the security of each component of your network, protecting you from the most sophisticated viruses and online threats, while providing comprehensive monitoring for all other potential issues and problems your network may encounter.

All You Need to Know About Managed IT Services in Washington DC for Legal Firms

All business sectors stand to benefit from Managed IT services. With cyber threats becoming stronger and more prolific toward and in law practices, clients are demanding a greater level of security and more efficient management of their IT systems, especially given the nature of information that law firms handle. As a result, legal firms are investing more in IT and cyber risk management, including detailed security plans and risk prevention tools.

Law firms already have a lot on their plate, but cyber risk and general IT management shouldn’t be a burden if you invest in the right professionals to manage this area of operations for you. Because technology is a fact of life for all business and industry sectors, legal firms cannot ignore the pressing need for more advanced IT systems. Fortunately, you don’t have to be alone in your quest for safer, more efficient technology and information management. With managed IT services, you get to take advantage of:

• Your service provider’s technical expertise. Just as your legal firm is well versed in the ins and outs of law, IT professionals offer a unique set of expertise on the table. With constantly changing technology, you can’t afford to rest on yesterday’s technology, hence the need for experts to guide you through transitions between the ever-evolving technological needs of your operations. The technical expertise that managed IT service providers offer is invaluable, especially when it comes to compliance with industry standards and government regulations in your firm’s use of technology.

• Managed IT services will also ensure higher levels of security for your company. With the highly confidential nature of the information that legal firms process and keep, they demand the highest level of security so as to maintain the public’s confidence as well as the business’ integrity. Managed service providers can recommend and provide your legal firm with the best and latest in software security to prevent breaches from happening.

All About Microsoft’s New OS for Enterprise Servers

Part of maintaining a business in the 21^st century is trying to cope with all the tech developments and advancements that run the modern world. Just like you don’t want to be driving an old, barely street-legal/ road-safe car on modern streets plied by faster, eco-friendlier, and cheaper to maintain modern rides, you also don’t want a computer engine with bare minimum features to help your business get by. You are setting your business up for stagnation by resting on old technology.

Even when you are perfectly content with what old versions of technology are doing for your business, its backward thinking to be satisfied with what they have to offer, because newer and better systems will definitely come to cater to what they lack and even fix issues that are hindering your productivity. The same is true when it comes to Windows Enterprise Servers. One of the main reasons why you should consider constant updates is because as time goes, old systems no longer receive upgrades and eventually go unsupported, especially when newer, more robust systems come to the surface.

If you still haven’t migrated to Windows 2016, an upgrade may well benefit your operations, especially when you are looking for a hybrid-ready solution that can help gear you up for the evolving requirements and demands on enterprise IT infrastructures. If you are still not convinced about an upgrade, perhaps knowing that the latest Windows Server to reach end-of-life was only 15 years old (WS 2003) and it will not be long until the next in line 2008 R2 platform will follow WS 2003’s footsteps. End-of-life products no longer receive fixes or new features, which makes them extremely vulnerable to failures and security breaches.

With Windows Server 2016, you don’t only get the advantage of updates, but the full benefits of a cloud-ready platform, while also enjoying improvements in key areas like security and software defined datacenters.

All About How Virtual Reality Has Seen Success in Mental Health Disorders Treatments

Mental health disorders are coming to better light, thanks to efforts that are slowly, but surely removing the negative stigma about different mental conditions that afflict humanity. One of the many developments in the treatment of mental health disorders is the use of virtual reality technologies in various types of therapies. Virtual reality as a tool for introducing therapy for treating mental health issues isn’t entirely a brand-new concept. In fact, it’s been decades since VR is used to administer exposure therapy in a safe and controlled environment. Nowadays, virtual reality therapy is widely used as a mental health treatment platform, thanks to a greater availability of VR devices and more advanced VR technology. Below are some of the most common mental health therapies that benefit from VR technology: 

• VR Therapy for PTSD – VR has been widely used in prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD. In fact, the earliest uses for VR devices have been for the treatment of war veterans and soldiers who suffered PTSD in the 90s. This said, military PTSD isn’t the only kind of PTSD condition that can be treated using VR PET. The technology is also widely used for treating those who underwent other types of trauma such as sexual abuse.

• VR Therapy for Phobias and Anxiety – VR is also being used for treating a vast number of phobic and anxiety disorders through self-guided therapies and/or telemedicine.

• VR Therapy for Stress Relief – Stress and anxiety reduction therapies can also be administered with the use of VR technology, including meditative and relaxation therapies designed to remedy generalized anxiety and stress.

• VR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies – Apart from exposure therapy, VR is also useful in administering psychotherapeutic treatments like cognitive behavioral therapies that help patients deal with disturbing and destructive thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors.

How Proper Cyber Security Can Lengthen a Company's Life

Information has become one of the most valuable resources today. As our world becomes more and more digitized, protecting valuable data has become a major challenge for business—not just for the big corporations, but also smaller companies. Data theft or hacking is a serious threat to businesses of all sizes and in all industries. So, as long as there data is digitally stored, anyone can be a target. That is why a growing number of companies have been paying more and more attention and investing heavily on protecting their information. In 2017, the value of the cyber security market is expected to reach $120 billion.

 Data theft, hacking, and more recently the ransomware threat can dramatically affect the reputation, profitability, and viability of companies in many ways. If your business gets targeted, you must deal with the impact of the data breach and containing the threat to prevent more data from being lost. Recovery and restoring the lost data will also be a huge headache. And then there is the issue of restoring the loyalty and confidence of your stakeholders, clients or customers. All of these will cost a lot of money and can really hurt your bottom line or worse, kill off your business altogether.

That is why it is imperative to shore up your data protection and security. Just because your company is small doesn’t mean that it is less susceptible to attacks. In fact, 71% of reported cyber-attacks target small and medium businesses.

When it comes to cyber security, prevention is always better (and less costly) than a cure. The main problem with cyber security is that the threat constantly evolves. As such, the need is to have a dynamic and proactive solution to protect oneself from these cyber threats. Investing now on protective measures such as good antivirus software, firewall protection, strong and secure password systems, and a strong awareness on cyber threats is the key to safeguard your information from intrusion and unauthorized access. A mindset of constant improvement and investment in cyber security systems is necessary to insure a company's survival in today's digital world.

Source URL : http://www.orionnetworks.net/how-proper-cyber-security-can-lengthen-a-companys-life/

Mobile Security

With smartphones, tablets, and laptops enabling anyone to work from just about anywhere, the need for mobile security is no doubt growing. Cloud solutions continue to help many individuals work and access their files remotely, too. However, despite the convenience of technology, data can still be at risk—especially with mobile devices. Reliable mobile security is absolutely essential to protect your privacy, your devices, and your files from cyber attacks, malware, and hackers.

Mobile security will not merely protect you from external threats. It can protect you from internal threats, too, such as data loss due to accidental deletion or unauthorized access to certain types of files. This can be crucial if your business practices BYOD (bring your own device) and allows employees to work remotely or from their homes. All crucial information and data (as well as identities) can be protected and will not be used to harm other services within the organization.

Basic forms of mobile security include antivirus solutions and policies. Some of these are cost-effective and reliable services that can help secure a small business. There are a number of low-cost mobile security solutions for small businesses that are looking for reasonably priced and reliable security tools. With these solutions, you get a free antivirus, paid and free SSL certificates, mobile device management, free internet security, security for POS systems, and firewall protection.

 StaySafeOnline.Org is a good source for resources and tools designed to help small business owners who want to protect their customers, employees, and business from data loss, cyber attacks, and other threats.

Having a BYOD policy is part of good mobile security measures, too. That way, all devices used in the business can be managed more efficiently. When creating a BYOD policy, be sure to highlight crucial factors like terms of acceptable use, security and password protection, the types of devices that are allowed, disclaimers, liabilities, and risks.

About the Author:

Mike Rana is the Chief Technology Advisor of Orion Network Solutions. Orion Network Solutions specializes in providing Computer Installation, Maintenance, and Consulting services along with 24×7 help desk services for small and midsize companies. We provide network solutions that enable small businesses to not only lower their management cost but also increases employee productivity at the same low price. We offer network solution that becomes an integral part of your organization and can provide an increase in productivity of your organization.

Source URL : http://www.orionnetworks.net/mobile-security/

Latest Security News: New Updates Regarding Microsoft and Other Application Updates in October

Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday for October delivered 10 critical updates to Windows 8 and 7 systems, with five rated ‘critical’, four rated ‘important’, and an update with a ‘moderate’ or lower security rating. The way those updates were delivered were different, too, in the sense that Microsoft followed the cumulative update model used in Windows 10 for all the currently supported Windows platforms and their respective versions. Before this latest update, Microsoft used to have a granular approach with individual patches and updates. Now, security is bundled with system component (.NET) and browser components as aggregate patches.

The October updates included multiple ‘Patch Now’ updates for Edge, Internet Explorer, Adobe Flash Player, and a minimum component of Microsoft Office, all of which will require you to restart your system after completion. MS16-118 is one of the critical updates aimed at Internet Explorer to resolve 11 vulnerabilities in its security related to scripting engine issues and memory corruption, both of which could make the browser vulnerable to remote code execution. At least one issue related to memory has already been exploited in the past months and was reported to Microsoft, resulting in this ‘Patch Now’ update.

MS16-119 is another critical update that will resolve 17 memory, scripting, and name space handling problems in Microsoft Edge. It comes with a fix that is aimed as a remedy for a recently detected exploit. MS16-127 addressed 12 security ‘priority one’ vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player. If left unpatched, hackers could remotely execute a code. The update is not directly linked with the Edge and IE updates. Instead, it affects only the platforms running on Windows 8.

Apart from Microsoft, Oracle rolled out a critical patch update, which consisted of patches addressing multiple security vulnerabilities. Oracle keeps receiving reports of various attempts to exploit vulnerabilities maliciously, so applying the update is crucial to keep your system safe. October 2016’s critical patch update covers 253 new security fixes for various products, including Oracle Database Server, Application Express, Enterprise Manager, and PeopleSoft Enterprise. 

About the Author:

           

Mike Rana is the Chief Technology Advisor of Orion Network Solutions. Orion Network Solutions specializes in providing Computer Installation, Maintenance, and Consulting services along with 24x7 help desk services for small and midsize companies. We provide network solutions that enable small businesses to not only lower their management cost but also increases employee productivity at the same low price. We offer network solution that becomes an integral part of your organization and can provide an increase in productivity of your organization.

Windows 10 Free Upgrade Has Ended - What Happens Next?

Windows 10 is the latest operating system released by Microsoft, and you were given until July 29, 2016, to upgrade to it for free. That date is exactly a year since the initial release of the OS. The upgrade was offered for free as part of Microsoft's plan to get the OS to run on one billion devices in the next few years. Those running authentic Windows 7 and Window 8.1 were given the chance to upgrade for free; however, some users failed to do so. Regardless of your reason for not taking advantage of that free upgrade, upgrading to Windows 10 after July 29 simply means having to pay for it.

Upgrading to Windows 10 can be a crucial step to future-proofing your systems. Microsoft's long-term goal for providing a free upgrade is to gradually phase out Windows 7. On January 14, 2020, Microsoft will stop its commitment to provide extended support for it. Putting off the upgrade until 2020 may put your business at risk, because delays, reduce productivity, and make your systems vulnerable to attackers.

After the deadline, your small business can still upgrade by buying Windows 10 and consulting with a reliable network solutions provider for assistance in deployment. This way, you can avoid the guesswork and the upgrade will not have to cause too much downtime in your operations. A specialist can help you determine and confirm your system's readiness for Windows 10, too. They will take measures to ensure that you can upgrade to Windows 10 seamlessly and cost-effectively. Likewise, they can take care of the error codes and other issues that may occur during and after installation.

A Windows 10 upgrade can be automated to help you save time and effort. the deployment can be automated by using Microsoft s SCCM application. There are many benefits to upgrading to Windows 10. Apart from preparing you for the end of Windows 7, the new operating system lets small businesses be more flexible as it works across all devices, including mobile. It empowers BYOD policies while ensuring cost-effective implementation. Windows 10 may help boost your productivity with help from Cortana, the new virtual assistant, and other intelligent features like the unified control panel, enhanced notifications, and virtual desktops. At the same time, your business gets enterprise-grade security for your data.

About the Author:

           

Mike Rana is the Chief Technology Advisor of Orion Network Solutions. Orion Network Solutions specializes in providing Computer Installation, Maintenance, and Consulting services along with 24x7 help desk services for small and midsize companies. We provide network solutions that enable small businesses to not only lower their management cost but also increases employee productivity at the same low price. We offer network solution that becomes an integral part of your organization and can provide an increase in productivity of your organization.

Source URL : http://www.orionnetworks.net/windows-10-free-upgrade-has-ended-what-happens-next/

Are You Still Using Windows XP and Do You Have a Plan in Place to Migrate?

It has been more than a year since Microsoft cut off support for Windows XP. Users of this operating system can no longer receive the latest security updates, assisted support options, or technical content updates. This also means that new vulnerabilities that may be discovered in Windows XP post cut-off will no longer be addressed by security updates from Microsoft. 

Despite the obvious risks of continuing to run Windows XP, some companies insist on using this operating system until the hardware fails. Windows XP loyalists have a hard time leaving their old ways behind not only because of the fear of transition, but because of the immediate cost implication of such a switch. What they don’t realize is that the long-term costs of managing an unsupported, out of date technology or system add up quickly—easily superseding the amount needed to pay upfront to license new technology.

The security risks associated with using Windows XP beyond its end-of-support date are serious. Attackers now have the advantage of having more information about the system’s vulnerabilities—and they know that Microsoft is no longer there to defend their new attacks. Malware attackers are now exploiting XP, and small businesses are particularly more vulnerable because they don’t have the same level of IT security as bigger entities.

Security issues do not end with the OS itself. Application-level vulnerabilities also proliferate it. Vendors will stop patching applications running on XP because it will no longer be economically worthwhile for them to do so. Finally, failure to move to Windows 7 or 8 limits productivity due to lessening compatibility. A company may miss out on opportunities because it cannot take advantage of the latest technologies, like desktop virtualization.

Plan for Migration

Migrating to Windows 7 or 8 from XP is not easy, but careful planning can help smooth the path. It makes sense to hire an IT consultant to assist you during the transition. A consultant can check if your current systems are up to the task and recommend hardware upgrades to improve compatibility. The consultant can also assess your organization’s needs and help you decide which new OS is a better fit. A consultant can likewise teach your staff how to handle legacy applications using the new OS.

Don’t underestimate the complexity and size of a migration project. Working with a consultant is the best way to ensure a smooth transition, and will save you money in the long run.

About the Author:

                          

Mike Rana is the Chief Technology Advisor of Orion Network Solutions. Orion Network Solutions specializes in providing Computer Installation, Maintenance and Consulting services along with 24x7 help desk services for small and midsize companies. We provide network solutions that enable small businesses to not only lower their management cost but also increases employee productivity at the same low price. We offer network solution that become integral part of your organization and can provide an increase in productivity of your organization.