What is Microsoft 365?Office 365 is a cloud-based service hosted by Microsoft that brings together familiar Microsoft Office desktop applications with business-class email, shared calendars, instant messaging (IM), video conferencing, and file sharing. With Office 365, you’ll receive secure, enterprise-grade tools at a very low cost with no upfront infrastructure investments. Get your work done faster from virtually anywhere, working with the Office you already know! 1. Low Upfront CostSince Office 365 is a subscription-based online software, there are little upfront costs associated with deployment.
- No new servers needed
- No software license or CAL costs
- Predictable monthly fees as low as $4 per user/month
- Includes licenses for 5 devices per user
2. Familiar Office Experience Microsoft Office is the world’s leading productivity application giving you virtually anywhere access across your devices.
- Always the latest version of the familiar Office apps that you use and install on your desktop (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Consistent formatting across your PC, Mac, iPad, phone, browser
- Online versions of Office
- Add components such as Project, Dynamics CRM & Visio as needed
3. Business-Class Email
Powered by Microsoft Exchange Online, you can access your emails, shared calendars, and contacts from your PC, Mac, iPad, phone and browser using Outlook.
- 50GB user mailboxes with up to 25 MB attachments
- Easy to add users and set up email on your domain name
- Robust anti-spam and anti-malware
4. Instant Messaging & Video Conferencing
Powered by Microsoft Lync Online, you can set up and join online meetings in Outlook with just one-click.
- Presence, IM, voice, and HD video conferencing
- Real-time note taking and document sharing
- Conduct online meetings with customers and partners
- Connect with Skype contacts using presence, IM, and voice
5. Document Sharing
Powered by Microsoft SharePoint Online, you can easily share documents and information with colleagues and customers. Plus, you get 1TB of storage per user on OneDrive.
- Share documents with controlled access
- Sync online files to your devices for offline access
- Share team emails and documents with Site Mailboxes
- Co-edit documents with others at the same time
Contact a BizTech Solution Advisor for plans & pricing info.
Call 419.539.6922 or email info@gobiztech.com.
Do you remember the CryptoLocker malware that was going around starting in 2013? In recent months, there has been a similar ransomware that has been infecting computers...CryptoWall.
Like the CryptoLocker virus, CryptoWall is a form of 'ransomware;' which is a type of
malware which restricts access to the Microsoft Windows-running computer
that it infects, and demands a ransom paid to the creator of the
malware in order for the restriction to be removed. How are computers being infected?CryptoWall is a Trojan horse, which means that the virus is disguised as a non-threatening application or file. This virus is typically spread through email as an attachment, but is also spread by infected websites via 'drive-by download.'
How will I know if my computer is infected?
There are two tell-tale signs that indicate CryptoWall has infected your computer.
- When attempting to open certain files, such as .doc, .xls or .pdf, for example, the files are launched with the correct program; however, data may be garbled or not properly displayed. Additionally, an error message may be accompanied when trying to open infected files.
- The most common indication will be the appearance of three files at the root of every directory that contains files that were encrypted by CryptoWall.
- DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.txt
- DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.html
- DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.url
Clicking on any of these files left from CryptoWall's infection will lead you to step-by-step instructions for paying the ransom. A file will have the ransom countdown and how much money they are requesting. Typically, the ransom amount begins at $500, and the countdown timer gives you three days to send payment.
After the timer has reached zero, the caption will change. The new amount requested will double to $1,000, and the timer will provide a cutoff date and time. Usually, the time frame is about one week, and it will tell you that if payment is not received before the cutoff time, the remote server housing the private key and decryption application to decrypt your files will be automatically deleted, making your files unrecoverable. What should I do if my computer gets infected with CryptoWall?
After confirming that your computer is infected, you have to decide if you want to pay the ransom to get your data back, or if you don't. If you decide to pay the ransom, you have to do so in Bitcoins.
If you don't pay the ransom, you can attempt to recover your files if you have some sort of backup in place. This may or may not work. We recommend working with a skilled IT Technician to help you with this. How can I protect my computers from the CryptoWall virus? You should ALWAYS have an active antivirus application installed with the latest virus definition files. This should include a malware scanner. Have a proper backup system in place. Preferably with a local and cloud-based backup schedule. That way if you do get an infection, you can restore your data. Of the dozens of clients who have come to us with the CryptoWall infection, only ones who had a good, recent data backup had a successful comeback from the virus. Practice safe internet- don't visit questionable sites, never click links within emails from unknown senders, and only download add-ons from trusted websites.
Contact the experts at BizTech if you are having issues with malware, or if you are interested in the benefits of online data backups. Call us at 419.539.6922 or email info@gobiztech.com
Many people spend numerous hours a day in front of a computer without thinking about the impact it can have on their bodies. They physically stress their bodies daily without realizing it by extending their wrists, slouching, sitting without foot support and straining to look at poorly placed monitors.
These practices can lead to repetitive stress injuries and cumulative trauma disorders. Symptoms can include pain, muscle fatigue, loss of sensation, tingling and reduced performance.
Good desk ergonomics can reduce strain, fatigue and injuries by keeping you in a comfortable, relaxed posture.
Whether you use a desktop computer in an office, or a portable computer in an alternative setting, you make choices that can either improve or decrease your performance and comfort. By thoughtfully reviewing the layout of your workplace and your equipment, we are often able to identify what is wrong and begin to develop improvements to make computer use more rewarding and less physically demanding.
After reviewing your work area, can you honestly say that this is the most functional, comfortable, safest and logical way to set up the area?
If not, you should arrange your workstation: every time you work, take time to adjust workstations that aren't quite right in order to minimize awkward and frequency performed movements.
View a full list of computer ergonomics tips compiled by University of Michigan
Apple also has a great microsite dedicated to computer ergonomics
These days, a notebook without an internet connection is like a bicycle without pedals. You can still use it, but you won’t get very far. That’s why it’s all the more frustrating when you lose your wireless internet connection and your IT department or helpful officemate aren’t there to provide a quick fix.
A savvy user, however, doesn’t have to be at the mercy of other people’s schedules. With a few simple troubleshooting tips—and a basic understanding of how your wireless network is set up—you can easily take care of many common issues yourself and quickly return to peak productivity. Here’s how:
Looking for trouble
Fixing your wireless internet connection is in large part a process of elimination. You need to check each link in the chain that takes you online and determine which link is—or is not—causing the issue. For most environments, you’ll find the problem in one of these four areas:
1. The notebook
The software, network card, and settings installed on your notebook PC can be the primary sources of issues in connecting to the internet.
How to fix it:
- Check that wireless access is enabled:
- Windows 7: Go to the Control Panel, select Networking and Internet, select Network and Sharing Center, select Change Adapter Settings, right-click on the icon for Wireless Connection, and click Enable.
- Windows 8: Bring up the Charms Bar by swiping in from the right, open Settings and click on the Wi-Fi symbol, then switch wireless to the “on” position.
- Try Windows Network Diagnostics
- Windows 7: To open the Network troubleshooter from network-related error messages, click Diagnose or Troubleshoot. Or, click on the Troubleshoot Problems option from the Network and Sharing Center.
- Windows 8: From the Start screen, enter “troubleshooting” to open the Search charm, and then select troubleshooting from the search results. Click on Network and Internet, and then click Internet Connections.
2. The wireless router
Routers send and receive the signals from your notebook PC that allow you to go wireless—when they’re working correctly. Note that many modern modems actually include a router and modem in a single device.
How to fix it:
- Try moving your notebook closer to the router. Walls or other signals may be interfering with the connection and a different location may fix the problem.
- Try resetting the router. Unplug the router and wait 30 seconds before plugging it back in to make sure it fully resets.
- Bypass the router. If you plug in your notebook directly to the modem with an Ethernet cable and can access the internet, you’ve isolated the problem to the router and can further diagnose the issue from there. Try updating the notebook wireless drivers and then try updating the router firmware. Finally, try resetting the router to its factory settings.
- Check for overheating. If the router drops the internet connection regularly, one problem may be that the router is overheating. Make sure that the router has sufficient airflow and is not in an excessively hot location.
3. The modem
The modem is the device that communicates between you and the Internet Service Provider (ISP) outside of your home or office. The modem may not be communicating correctly with your notebook or with your ISP.
How to fix it:
- Reset the modem. Unplug the modem and wait 30 seconds before plugging it back in to make sure it fully resets.
- Ensure the cables are secure. Check the cables connecting the modem to both the router and the internet source (for example, the coaxial cable for a cable modem) are secure.
4. The Internet Service Provider
The ISP is the commercial service the modem talks to outside of your office. Regional outages can disrupt not just your internet access, but also the entire neighborhood’s connection.
How to fix it:
- Check your browser. Public or guest internet connections—such as those at hotels or airports—sometimes require you to accept their terms of agreement before enabling access. To enable the connection, open up a new browser window after connecting to the wireless network. You will be automatically be directed to a page with the service agreement, where you can click to accept the terms and begin browsing. Remember: always use caution when browsing on public networks, and avoid visiting sensitive sites.
- Call your provider. Your ISP’s technical support will be able to let you know if the internet outage is generalized or specific to your home or office. If you’ve followed the other troubleshooting steps in this article and there isn’t a generalized outage, you may need to schedule a maintenance visit to restore service.
There are now more mobile-connected devices in the world than there are people [3] and each one of those devices will probably run into trouble with its wireless internet connection sooner or later. With a bit of know-how and the right approach, you can turn many of the most common connection problems from show-stopping roadblocks into little more than minor road bumps. A little knowledge can go a long way.
Source article- HP blog: http://www8.hp.com/h30458/us/us/smb/Areyoufeelingdisconnected_1463815.html
