The Monthly Download—June 2024

Out of sight, out of mind?

Having your employees work from home or their local coffee shop is the norm now. And while there are loads of benefits to this new attitude to work, it’s easy to overlook a crucial aspect of keeping operations secure: The home set-ups of remote employees

Here’s the thing – neglecting remote security can lead to some serious headaches down the line. And you already have enough business headaches, right?

Imagine this: Your employee’s laptop, which holds loads of sensitive company data, gets breached because their home Wi-Fi network wasn’t properly secured.

Or worse, a malware infection spreads from their kid’s device to their work laptop, putting your entire network at risk. That’s scary.

A little vigilance and some regular checks can prevent these risks and keep your business and its data much safer.

So, let’s talk about devices. Encourage your remote workers to treat their work devices like Fort Knox. That means regular updates and patches, robust protective software, and strong, unique passwords (password managers are your best friend for this). Remind them to avoid risky behaviours like downloading software from unofficial sources or clicking on suspicious links.

Next, address home networks. A weak Wi-Fi password is asking for trouble. Encourage your employees to set a strong password for their home network (again, a password manager can remove the hassle of this). And while they’re at it, remind them to enable encryption and hide their network’s SSID (Service Set Identifier) to add an extra layer of security.

And it’s not just about devices and networks – physical security matters too. Use biometrics to protect logins. Remind your team to keep their work devices secure when they’re not in use, whether that means locking them away in a drawer or simply keeping them out of sight from prying eyes. And if they’re working from a shared space like a coffee shop, remind them to be cautious of public Wi-Fi and to keep an eye on their belongings.

Regular checks are key to staying on top of security. Schedule routine audits of remote set-ups to ensure everything gets a thumbs up. This could include checking for software updates, reviewing network configurations, and providing refresher training on best security practices.

Want a hand with that? We can help - Get in touch.

What's happening at RCT this month?

We're enjoying the sunshine together as a team, taking full advantage of the beautiful weather. One of the many advantages of having our office in Innovation Place is having easy access to the river and the beautiful Boffins garden.

Business gadget of the month

Scan reader pen: This handy little pen can do loads. It can read aloud text that you scan with it, translate text written and spoken in different languages, record voice notes, and transcribe speech into text.

Handy if you travel or work with people in other countries. Also a useful tool for people with dyslexia.

$46.99 from Amazon.

Technology Update

Install any website or web tool as an app in Windows 11

In Windows 11, you can install ANY website or web tool as a traditional app. They’re known as Progressive Web Apps (or PWAs) and once installed, they’ll appear on your Start menu like a
normal app would. You can even pin apps to the Taskbar.

Why bother? PWAs use less resources than traditional apps, and you’ll always get the latest version without having to run an update first.

All you do is visit the site, click on Settings, select Apps, and click “Install this site as an app.” Easy.

Tech facts

• The internet weighs as much as a strawberry. That’s according to physicist Russell Seitz. He says the combined weight of all the electrons in motion is about 50 grams.
• The first computer bug was a real bug. In 1947, Grace Hopper and her team found a moth causing issues in their computer at Harvard University.
• In 2015, the United Nations reported that a start-up in Kenya was converting human waste into clean, renewable energy. This energy, in turn, powered Wi-Fi routers in low income areas.

Inspirational quote of the month

A New Month, A New Tech Quiz

1) The keyboard shortcut for copying information is Ctrl + C but what is the shortcut for paste?

2) In 1999 Shigetaka Kurita invented what keyboard additions for phones that would get their own movie?

3) When a password is limited strictly to numbers, it's referred to as a PIN. What does that stand for?

4) What word is often abbreviated as Fn on a keyboard?

5) Which American tech company started with it's founders idea to rent out an air mattress in their San Francisco living room to travelers hoping to avoid the city's high cost of rent?

The answers are below.

1. Ctrl + V
2. Emojis
3. Personal Identification Number Function
4. Airbnb

New to Microsoft 365

Microsoft Teams is becoming more inclusive

If you like to inject a little personality into your Teams chats, it’s likely you use reactions from time to time. But until now, they’ve been a little restrictive.

This month, a small tweak is due to rollout which will allow people to select a skin tone for their reactions. Microsoft says, “This preference will be applied to all emojis and reactions in chats, channels, and desktop/ web meetings, allowing users to express themselves more authentically in
conversations.”

For any help or advice, get in touch. It’s what we do.

• CALL: 306-933-3355
• EMAIL: [email protected]
• CONTACT PAGE: rivercitytech.ca/contact-us/