In-House or Remote, Automated Tools Bring Value

automated tools

Automation, as a concept, is a valuable capability. Whether an employee works remotely or is in the office for regular operations. Indeed, many businesses are now encouraging their team members to do both. Let’s review how a hybrid workplace can have a positive experience with automation in place… and why it’s essential for security’s sake.

What Can Be Accomplished Through Automation?

There are many business processes that automation can make more efficient. Simply by removing the limitations inherent in human involvement (not to mention that the human worker can spend their time on other tasks).

For example, data can be processed much more quickly than an employee could ever do manually. Thus, making automation an excellent asset for that reason alone. Of course, this is far from the only advantage that automation can provide to your hybrid workforce. Another primary reason to use automated solutions is for the sake of your security.

Automated Security Brings Benefits to Remote and In-House Team Members

Automatic Security Helps Fight Automated Attacks

Sometimes, you have to fight fire with fire. Modern cybercriminals have embraced automation and other artificially intelligent threat vectors. To stop these attacks effectively, systems that can independently evaluate and mitigate potential threats will be critical.

Automated Tools Provide a Bird’s-Eye-View of Your Defenses

In addition to taking the majority of the workload off your team members where handling threats are involved, an automated security system can help by providing critical insights. By observing any devices used to access company resources, your business can use these tools to evaluate where the most significant vulnerabilities lie. This way, you’re given insights into how your security needs to improve.

Automated Tools Can Save Your Team a Lot of Time

Regardless of how you’ve decided to use automation in your company, your team will have less on their plates to distract them from their actual responsibilities. As a result, more time can be dedicated to producing revenues and other, more desirable outcomes.

We can help you manage your operations in such a way that automation serves you to your most significant advantage, as well as putting numerous other benefits into place. Give us a call at (954) 474-2204 to learn more.

Blockchain Technology Does Have Some Practical Uses

adobestock Blockchain Technology

The blockchain is one of the more recent new technologies that businesses have been considering for their offices. Blockchain technology could have been implemented to solve a host of different problems. However, the world simply was not ready for it. Is it ready now? Perhaps—let’s take a look at three applications for the blockchain in today’s business world.

What Is Blockchain?

Blockchain technology is essentially a distributed database that stores data. Most databases are centralized, but with blockchain technology, each piece of information is stored on a block. This block is officially known as a node. These nodes are created whenever data is added to the chain, and all nodes are connected to other nodes. This chain of data is not governed by one person, but is spread out and duplicated. This is so every entity represented on the blockchain has a complete record of it. Each node is also encrypted, meaning that it cannot be edited. If the information needs to be altered, then a new node must be created.

The first technology to use the blockchain was the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, but it’s used for many other purposes these days. Here are three of them:

Improving Banking

Blockchain technology is perfect for financial transactions. Considering how everyone with a checking account understands how much of a pain keeping an updated ledger is, you might be relieved to know that blockchain technology makes it easier to manage. Each transaction gets its own node. Additionally, since it is a distributed system, it can work for multiple users at a time to create smart contracts. Basically, when two entities enter into an agreement with stipulations, blockchain can enable a payment when the conditions are met, essentially automating the flow of capital.

Improving Supply Chains

The COVID-19 pandemic has created countless problems for the supply chain, but blockchain technology is making it easier than ever to manage effectively. The distributed nature of a blockchain can work through multiple points on the supply chain, and as such, it is a great tool for procurement and distribution. If companies know where each product or component they need is at any given time, then transparency is improved as a whole.

Improving Healthcare

Many users thought that using the blockchain would be ideal for a healthcare system, and companies are trying to leverage it for problem-solving. There are businesses out there creating applications that can improve patient, care provider, and insurance information, all while giving patients better control over their medical information. Security is, of course, a major concern when personal information like this is concerned, so blockchain could prove to be a major boon for the healthcare industry.

Blockchain can be a great and exciting new tool, but we want to hear your thoughts on it. Do you think there is a way for your business to leverage it? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to our blog.

Make Strategic Decisions Better with a Virtual CIO

close up of 3 wooden letter blocks with the letters C, I, O on a wooden table. Benefits of a Virtual CIO

Many businesses do not have the resources or budget to hire technicians to perform regular maintenance on their systems. Let alone someone managing the technicians behind the scenes. The chief information officer, or CIO, is the one who would typically make these calls. Still, businesses that cannot hire an in-house CIO for whatever reason can hire a virtual CIO. Read on to learn about the benefits of a Virtual CIO for your business.

What is a Virtual CIO?

A virtual CIO is the same as a traditional CIO, just not on-site. A virtual CIO is an outsourced IT resource under contract with your organization. They provide services involved with handling your company’s IT strategy.

The significant difference here is that a virtual CIO looks at your IT strategy. Then, how it aligns with your business goals. When done correctly, the virtual CIO encourages and informs your IT decisions. Thus, allowing you to move toward your organization’s specific goals.

The best way to illustrate the difference between technicians and the virtual CIO is that technicians are responsible for addressing day-to-day challenges and issues for your organization’s IT infrastructure. In contrast, the virtual CIO is responsible for ensuring that the business’ long-term technology goals are met. Think about the virtual CIO as the travel agent booking your vacation, planning things in the style of a roadmap each step of the way.

What are the Benefits of a Virtual CIO?

The first notable benefit of a virtual CIO is the price. Considering their status as a c-suite employee, the traditional CIO is going to require considerable compensation. Small businesses often cannot offer competitive salaries for such high-demand talent, so instead of investing in a position, you can invest in a service with more affordable monthly payments. Plus, you don’t have to invest in finding a CIO’s searching or hiring process, increasing the value you get from outsourcing.

Furthermore, there is a certain level of objectivity that comes from a virtual CIO. Sometimes people get caught up in the passion of running a business and start to make decisions that might not make sense. They let their feelings and predispositions dictate their actions. Someone from outside the organization is more likely to make more objective decisions, hence why many companies hire external auditors or consultants.

Without someone spearheading your IT efforts, they are doomed to fail. Let 4 Corner IT take this task on, and you can say goodbye to the stress associated with technology decisions. To learn more about the benefits of a virtual CIO, reach out to us at (954) 474-2204.

The Benefits of Managed IT Services in 2021

Hand holding tablet with cloud technology and dark concept. benefits of managed IT

When it comes to your business technology, you shouldn’t settle for anything less than the best. Unfortunately, technology is one facet where many business owners feel they have the least amount of control. Perhaps due to its many moving parts and overwhelming complexity. The question becomes how you want to approach managing your business’ technology. Then, finding the right skill sets to do so. Enter the benefits of managed IT services.

You generally have two options for your IT needs. Hire an in-house department or outsource the responsibilities to a third party. Which approach best suits your needs?

Hiring an in-house department of IT technicians can be a lengthy and time-consuming process. Just like with any other position at your company, you will have to put together the job description, duties and responsibilities, and preferred requirements. That’s not to mention the time it takes to advertise the position, collect resumes and applications, put together a search committee, and interview successful candidates. Add in the onboarding process and any training that they might need and you have a lengthy process. Additionally, that process isn’t conducive to the “I need help right now” mode that many organizations find themselves in with their IT.

The alternative is to outsource your entire IT department to a dedicated third party. Believe it or not, this is a remarkably valuable asset for your organization to have. Plus, most IT maintenance and management can be done remotely without an on-site visit. This means that you are not limited by the traditional barriers to finding top talent. You could work with a reputable company halfway across the country if you want to. Additionally, you can afford to be picky with who you hire for the job.

Note the key difference between your in-house IT talent and outsourcing. Hiring an in-house IT department is dependent on other peoples’ qualifications rather than what you want for your IT needs. When it comes to your business, you should do what you think is best for your specific needs. If that is outsourcing to find the best fit for your company, then you should never be ashamed of that.

We always recommend that you start with an IT audit to ascertain where you currently are in terms of your IT infrastructure versus where you want to be. 4 Corner IT is happy to help with this process. After we gauge your current network infrastructure, we can work with you to identify your company’s major IT challenges. Then, implement solutions that address them.

Or, if you would rather hire in-house technicians, we can supplement their duties and responsibilities by covering the more mundane parts of the job, like supporting your team and performing routine maintenance. This frees up valuable time and resources for your technicians to focus on what you hired them to do: innovate and implement. It does not matter where you currently are in your IT processes–we can jump right in and provide value for your company.

To learn more about our benefits of managed IT services, reach out to 4 Corner IT at (954) 474-2204.

How Will Android Apps Work on Windows 11?

close-up View of The New Microsoft Windows 11 Logo on Computer Screen

With the news that Android applications will be available on Windows 11, users can expect to find Android apps available for download with a few terms and conditions to apply.

Let’s look at how this integration will roll out and why it may not be the solution we hoped for.

How will Android apps be available on Windows 11?

Rather than relying on a version of the Google Play Store optimized for Windows, Android applications will be available on Windows through the app store maintained by Amazon. This arrangement brings a few challenges with it, however.

For one, Amazon’s Appstore offers remarkably few apps compared to the other marketplaces. What’s worse, this lack of apps is particularly apparent regarding the productivity-based software you’d expect to find. Naturally, there aren’t any of Google’s applications, and many famous business applications like Trello, Slack, and Asana are missing. LastPass, 1Password, and Bitwarden are also absent as far as password management solutions are concerned. Many Microsoft programs don’t appear either. While Outlook, the all-in-one version of Office, and OneNote are there, others aren’t. Major banking applications aren’t there.

Exacerbating this issue is that many of the apps available aren’t correctly maintained, far outdated compared to the versions present on the Play Store.

Why is this the case?

The root of all of these issues is Google Play Services, a key component to many applications’ operations. Google Play Services enables an application to handle purchases, use location data, push notifications, and various other functions.

Naturally, this makes Google Play Services critical to the functionality of Android applications and a challenge to host on more than one app store and why many titles are missing from Amazon’s. A developer effectively has to reinvent the wheel to put the same application on Amazon’s Appstore. Otherwise, the application breaks.

So, with developers simply not focusing their efforts on optimizing their applications for all platforms, these deficits will be reflected in the applications available on Windows 11.

Will this change?

Perhaps, provided that app developers focus on making their applications available through Amazon’s Appstore. In the meantime, you can count on 4Corner IT to equip your team members with the tools they need to function efficiently.

Give us a call at (954) 474-2204 to learn more.