Is the speed of technological advancements outpacing your ability to protect your organization? Does the need for software updates, network patching, or industry advancements require more attention? There was a time when your 'man-in-a-van' IT contact was able to keep up the pace, but as your organization grows, so does your need for a dynamic IT strategy.

"PHISHING ATTACKS PREVALENT AMONG SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES"

Does this common headline make you wonder if you have taken the right steps to protect your small and medium-sized business (SMB)? Let's assume you have a robust firewall, up-to-date antivirus, and a current patching program. Your remote employees are working from a private VPN, ensuring secure network access. You've created a password policy requiring complex passwords that must be changed frequently. And recently, you've implemented multi-factor authentication (MFA), adding extra security against compromised credentials. If this describes your network security, then you are on the right track, but have you considered the human element?

Has it been a challenge to manage your complex environment due to the frequency of Microsoft 365 feature updates? Would you prefer less frequent updates since they can be unpredictable and disruptive to productivity? If this is the case at your organization, then we have good news for you. As of May 12, 2020, Microsoft announced the general availability of a new Monthly Enterprise Channel. Now, organizations can bring users the latest capabilities to stay productive and secure, but on a predictable, once-a-month release schedule.

What’s in a name? As Juliet pointed out to Romeo, a rose could have any other name, and still smell just as sweet. This is essentially what Microsoft has done with their recent name changes to several of their Office 365 product suites. Going forward, all the product names of Office 365 for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and Office ProPlus products will use the Microsoft 365 name, dropping the ‘Office’ brand.

As we begin the third quarter of 2020, cybercriminals are continuing to adapt and increase their COVID-19 related attacks. Small to medium-sized businesses (SMB) are being targeted through a variety of malicious tactics. According to FBI Deputy Assistant Director, Tonya Ugoretz, the number of cybercrime reports has quadrupled in the months since the pandemic began. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) was previously fielding 1,000 complaints a day. They are now receiving between 3,000-4,000, with the majority of complaints related to COVID-19 (Source: The Hill.)

If your organization has Microsoft 365 (Office, Enterprise Mobility + Security, and Windows 10) you have access to a full array of powerful and flexible apps. These great productivity boosters enable employees to work from anywhere with their app of their choice to match their preferred working style. The challenge is how do businesses identify which Microsoft 365 app to use and the appropriate situation for each.

Company Joins Small Rank of New England Firms to Hold Designation 

PORTLAND, Maine — June 3, 2020 — Systems Engineering, a leading IT strategy and managed services provider serving clients across New England, announced today it is enhancing its services with Microsoft Premier Support for Partners agreement advancing the company's position as an elite Microsoft partner.