On March 1, SpireTech switched to a new credit card processor. We wrote about this last month, so here’s a friendly reminder - If you are paying your bill with a CC and haven’t yet logged into our portal and updated your credit card number, please do so before...
Portland IT Support Articles & Business Tech News
Cybersecurity, M365, Managed IT Services, AI, & Technology Trends for Portland Businesses
Audio conferencing now included in M365 packages that include Teams
We learned late last month that as part of the price increases to certain M365 packages, Microsoft added audio conferencing as part of the base package when Teams is also part of the package. Previously, this was a $4 add-on – so this helps offset some of the price...
You need Multi-factor Authentication
“Authentication” is the process of proving that you are who you say you are. Traditionally that's been done with a username and a password. Unfortunately, authenticating with a username/password alone is simply not good enough in today’s world. Usernames are often...
Paying your SpireTech bill with a Credit Card? Please read!
After March 1 2022, clients paying by credit card will need to re-enter their credit card information into the SpireTech billing portal. This is because we are changing merchant account processors to Stripe to save money on processing fees. At SpireTech last year,...
How SpireTech is handling the Microsoft price increases
As previously advised in this newsletter, SpireTech has been tracking Microsoft’s upcoming price increases. There are two types of increases, and effective dates for these increases. The first price increase is effective March 1, 2022 affects six popular M365...
6 Ways Small Businesses Can Avoid Ransomware Attacks
During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercrime has seen an incredible 600% increase — and it’s not slowing down. This alarming trend means that proper cybersecurity implementation is more important than ever. A large number of these attacks are ransomware...
McMenamins Ransomware Attack
As you may or may not be aware, the well-known brewery and hospitality chain McMenamins suffered a data breach following a ransomware attack during the month of December. During the attack, threat actors stole business records, payroll and human resources data files...
2022 Note from SpireTech’s Leadership Team
The covid pandemic has undoubtedly sent ripple effects through every industry over the last 2 years causing various layers of issues forcing businesses to immediately shift, adapt, and overcome. It’s refreshing to hear from many of our clients and their teams that...
Happy New Year!
Thank you for continuing to trust SpireTech as your IT partner. From everyone here at SpireTech, we want to wish you and yours a healthy, positive, safe, and SECURE 2022! As we reflect each year to learn, understand, and strive to be better, we are excited to continue...
Five Essential Steps to Protecting Your Business
Cybersecurity threats are an ongoing issue for various industries from medical practices to architecture and engineering firms. Unfortunately, the consequences can often be disastrous, leading to breaches in confidential data or sensitive client information. These...
Happy Holidays from SpireTech (2021)
From all of the employees at SpireTech – we wish you and yours happy holidays and a prosperous new year!
What should keep business owners up at night
Much of what we write about, and often repeat around security in this newsletter is based on actual experiences and real-world stories that SpireTech has been a part of or privy to learn about from others in the security industry that...
4 Essential Data Backup Practices
In today’s world, essential data backup practices are not optional. Businesses encounter threats on a daily basis that can negatively impact their business by seriously harming their data. These threats can strike any moment and cause unpredictable damage...
Global Chip Crisis Continues
The global chip crisis is continuing into 2022. The industry has been hit hard by a worldwide shortage of chips, which are used in computers and other electronic devices. This has left small businesses across the world to scramble for alternative solutions to their...
SpireTech Out-Of-Office Schedule
SpireTech staff will be in an all-staff vendor driven training meeting and will be not taking calls Friday November 12th from 3PM-4:30PM. As always, we will be monitoring email and voicemail for any critical situations, but all other normal requests will be responded...
Important Microsoft 365 Update
Microsoft has notified partners that they are implementing a new commerce experience starting January 2022. They had also announced in August 2021 that a change with pricing to certain subscription packages was coming in 2022. SpireTech has been tracking these changes...
