Used with permission from Norton by Symantec Malicious software that uses encryption to hold data for ransom has become wildly successful over the last few years. The purpose of this software is to extort money from the victims with promises of restoring encrypted...
Portland IT Support Articles & Business Tech News
Cybersecurity, M365, Managed IT Services, AI, & Technology Trends for Portland Businesses
Why bother with updates and upgrades?
When was the last time you thought about software updates and hardware upgraes? For many, updating software and hardware is not a priority because “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. However, it’s clear that today’s cyber attacks prey on vulnerabilities present in old...
Start with security – and stick with it
When it comes to data security, what’s reasonable will depend on the size and nature of your business and the kind of data you deal with. But certain principles apply across the board: Don’t collect sensitive information you don’t need. Protect the information you...
Update on the dumpster fire and repairs to our generator system
After the recent dumpster fire, our electricians have been hard at work to get everything back to normal. New permanent conduits, transfer switch, and wire have been installed, and repairs to one of our two generators are under way. While our generator is being...
4 ways to help your remote employees collaborate better
Remote employees have come a long way since the days when trying to work while away from the workplace was like a sentence in solitary confinement. Thanks to the Cloud, they no longer have to use cumbersome methods to access office computer files or receive access...
What does your business stand to lose in a cyber attack?
Not long ago, I blogged here about a new type of cybercrime called ransomware. But when it comes to cyber crooks, apparently they’re also using some old-fashioned methods to breach businesses’ systems. The 2017 Annual Cybersecurity Report from Cisco...
Lead generation: When the “product” is personal data
used with permission from FTC.gov., Lesley Fair There's been a lot of talk about "ping trees" and other activities associated with the lead generation industry. The FTC's concern is that consumers don't get ponged in the process. A proposed settlement gives a glimpse...
Google Docs phishing attack
As some of you may already be aware of, there has been a large scale email phishing attack that impersonates a Google Docs request. Although it may appear that the email requests are coming from a known sender or domain, they are using techniques to spoof those...
Fire Outside SpireTech’s Office Building
Fire in a trash dumpster located in the parking lot caused damage to the electrical system which controls our generators. Core electrical and network connectivity remained up during the fire. Repairs needed to address all damage are underway. We will post...
SpireTech has made the 2017 MSP Mentor MSP501 List
10th Annual MSP 501 Ranking and Study Identifies World’s Most Progressive MSPs in Information Technology SpireTech ranks among the world’s most progressive 501 Managed Service Providers (MSPs), according to MSPmentor’s 10th-annual MSP 501 Worldwide Company Rankings....
See what SpireTech has been doing!
Within the last month SpireTech has hit several major milestones in providing superior solutions to our customers. We have earned our Microsoft Silver CSP status, and earned our SMB Cloud Competency. What does this mean for our customers? Read about each of these...
Warning: New Petya ransomware outbreak similar to WannaCry is spreading worldwide
A new ransomware attack called Petya, PetyaWrap, or GoldenEye began spreading worldwide on June 27th, and it looks similar to the WannaCry outbreak in May. It targets Microsoft Windows operating systems and so far reports show that all systems from XP to Windows 10...
10 easy-to-use online collaboration tools
Is your team having a communications breakdown? Or maybe just leaning too heavily on endless email threads? From workflow management apps to all-in-one collaboration tools, here are some of the many services available to help your colleagues cut down on email (yay!),...
Engage your customers with content – 6 tips for small businesses
A few years ago, a startup called Groove that makes helpdesk software found itself just months from running out of money. The founders did something unusual for businesspeople in that situation: They devoted themselves to rethinking their content marketing strategy....
Windows 10 Tip: Customize Your Start Menu
The Windows 10 Start menu has a new look from previous versions. Specifically, it uses tiles when pinning your favorite apps to the Start menu for quick access. Here, we’ll explain how you can customize your Start menu: pinning and removing apps from the Start menu...
6 steps to securing your email
Is your company's email providing a tempting route for cyber criminals to attack your business? Hackers continue to target businesses with phishing attacks. Once opened, these malicious email messages can hijack an entire company's financial information and gain...
