Coleman Technologies Blog

New technology is always a bit intriguing. It can also be scary for some. Business owners typically only see the cost, even if it presents solutions to their organizational problems and can err on the side of caution as to not too much strain on their budget. There are a couple of really cutting-edge technologies businesses can use today that can help them confront problems they have. Let’s take a look at them in today’s blog. 

Let the Robots Handle It

Imagine an employee who never sleeps, never takes coffee breaks, and doesn’t start drama in the office Slack channel. That’s AI-powered automation. From chatbots that can handle customer service (without continuously rolling their eyes) to AI-driven analytics that predict your next best move, AI is like having a super-efficient assistant who doesn’t need vacation days. It streamlines operations, saves money, and reduces human error.

Sure, AI won’t steal your lunch from the office fridge, but it can take care of repetitive tasks so your team can focus on the big-picture items of your business.

Blockchain Is Not Just for Bitcoin Bros

If you think blockchain is only useful for cryptocurrency fanatics, think again. Blockchain technology can make business transactions more secure, transparent, and efficient.

Instead of losing sleep over whether your supplier really shipped those products, blockchain creates an unchangeable digital ledger that tracks every step of the process. No more "oops, the system lost your payment" excuses—just verified, tamper-proof records that keep everyone honest. It’s like having a truth serum for your transactions.

The Cloud Is So Last Year

You’ve heard of cloud computing, but have you met its cooler, faster cousin, edge computing? Instead of relying on a distant server farm in who-knows-where, edge computing processes data closer to where it's actually being used.

For businesses, this means faster response times, better security, and reduced reliance on an overloaded Internet connection. If your company depends on real-time data—like productivity analytics, manufacturing systems, or even smart cameras—edge computing is the difference between instant results and a significant delay.

At Coleman Technologies, we work with all types of companies and organizations to get them the technology and support they need to succeed in whatever they set out to do. Give our team of experts a call to discuss your organization’s technology today at (604) 513-9428.

The use of technology is one of the things that brings most people together. For the past couple of decades people have depended more and more on technology as a way to manage their lives, socialize, and get the goods and services they choose to purchase. This has led to the development of a lot of solid technology-related television shows. In this week’s blog, we thought we would take a look at three shows that cover multiple genres that are solid viewing for the technology enthusiast. 

#1 - Silicon Valley

Developed by Mike Judge, the comic genius behind Beavis and Butthead, Office Space, and King of the Hill, Silicon Valley is one of the best comedies created over the past decade. Silicon Valley is set, you guessed it, in Silicon Valley. It centers around software developers that live in an “incubator” in Palo Alto, California. The main character, Richard Hendricks, is developing an app hilariously called Pied Piper that is being developed as a tool to search for copyrighted music. The real value of the app, however, is that it has a revolutionary lossless compression algorithm that allows people to keep huge databases that can run just about anything. This overlooked feature opens a bidding war that quickly gets out of hand. 

Silicon Valley ran for six seasons on HBO and wrapped up in 2019. It is laugh-out-loud funny for the entire run of the show. Some of the highlights of the show are Hendrick’s ineptitude at running a company, his running rivalry with the head of one of the biggest technology companies, Gavin Belson, and incubator developers Dinesh and Guilfoyle’s back and forth banter throughout the series. 

Silicon Valley
Created by: Mike Judge, John Altschuler, and Dave Krinsky
Starring: Thomas Middleditch, T.J. Miller, Josh Brener, Martin Starr, Kumail Nanjani, Zach Woods, Amanda Crew, Matt Ross, and Jimmy O. Yang
Network (years active): 2014-2019
Where to watch: Max

#2 - Mr. Robot

Created by Sam Esmail, Mr. Robot is a character study in schizophrenia. The show follows Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer and cyberterrorist with several mental illnesses and a drug addiction. Elliot is recruited by Mr. Robot, a manifested characterization of his late father to head up “fsociety,” a hacker collective that is attempting to encrypt the financial records held by the world’s largest technology company, ECorp. 

Mr. Robot is fashioned as a thriller and has been universally praised for its representation of the alienation that can sometimes come through the use of technology. Throughout much of the run, the show uses the dissociation of its main character to great effect, providing intrigue and ambiguity. The show ran four seasons from 2015-2019 on USA Network. 

Mr. Robot
Created by: Sam Esmail
Starring: Rami Malek, Christian Slater, Portia Doubleday, Carly Chaikin, Martin Wallström, Michael Cristofer, Stephanie Corneliussen, Grace Gummer, BD Wong, Bobby Cannavale, Ashlie Atkinson, and Elliot Villar:
Network: USA Network
Where to watch: Amazon Prime

#3 - Black Mirror

Black Mirror is a dystopian anthology that is centered around the view of technology in future societies. The series started in 2011 and has won critical acclaim for its representation of situational speculative fiction. The series covers multiple genres and has touched on many different technologies and how they will affect humanity in the future. 

Black Mirror started on Channel 4 in the UK, but after season two it was picked up by Netflix. They have produced four more seasons as well as one of the very first interactive movies, Bandersnatch. The series was created by Charlie Brooker and he has written most of the episodes himself taking inspiration from authors such as Philip K. Dick and Issac Asimov. 

Black Mirror
Created by: Charlie Brooker
Starring: Anthology series, multiple stars.
Network: Channel 4 and Netflix
Where to watch: Netflix

Technology is now ubiquitous in our culture, and as time progresses there will certainly be more shows and series created centered around it. For more great technology-related content, check back weekly to our blog.

Skype, once a popular and beloved video chat platform, has reached the end of its rope (in a manner of speaking). Microsoft is discontinuing the 20-year-old communication application, instead focusing its efforts on Microsoft Teams. The last update to Skype will be on May 5, but that doesn’t change the impact Skype had on the development of modern communication tools.

Teams Really is Replacing Skype

Microsoft is enabling Skype users to import their communications, including chats, contacts, photos, call history, and so on, all to the Teams platform, effectively preserving and replacing it at the same time.

This will occur based on a pop-up that Microsoft has added to Skype; you can watch this YouTube video for a look at it.

But Why?

The one big reason why Skype is disappearing is because all the other tools it inspired have surpassed it.

Skype was founded in 2003, then acquired by Microsoft in 2011 as a part of its efforts to expand its enterprise collaboration solutions. During this time, it also acquired Bing to help out its new Windows Phone 7 OS (look how far that went). Microsoft then completed a rebrand of its existing communication platform, Lync, as Skype for Business, and bundled it with Office until 2021, when it was discontinued.

Unfortunately for Skype enthusiasts (we know you’re out there… we think), its time has come to join the ever-growing list of discontinued software.

Skype is a Reminder of IT’s Ugly Truths

No software lasts forever, and it’s beneficial to keep an eye on new technology innovations, even if they will eventually fade with time.

Technology by nature will grow outdated with time, so you should expect improvements, updates, and changes to happen while you’re going about your business–whether you’re ready or not. You should always be ready to adjust your technology plans according to what big software developers like Microsoft are planning for widely-used solutions. Thankfully, we can help make any new adjustments easy with our managed IT services.

To learn more about how Coleman Technologies can support your business’ IT, contact us at (604) 513-9428 today.

Businesses struggle with a lot of different issues, but when a problem hits you hard in the pocketbook, it can be disastrous for the whole organization. Let’s take a look at some technology that can help you make the most out of your time and effort.

Streamlined Operations

Efficiency is the cornerstone of a successful business. Implementing technology can help streamline various operational processes, reducing manual errors, saving time, and lowering operational costs. Here are a couple examples:

• Automation - Businesses can automate repetitive tasks such as data entry, invoicing, and inventory management. This not only reduces the risk of errors but also allows employees to focus on more value-added tasks.
• Data Analytics - Advanced analytics tools can provide valuable insights into customer behavior, market trends, and operational inefficiencies. This data-driven approach enables businesses to make informed decisions and optimize their strategies.

Improved Customer Engagement

Technology enables businesses to connect with customers more effectively, resulting in increased revenue opportunities. Here's how:

• Personalization - With the help of AI and machine learning algorithms, businesses can analyze customer data to deliver personalized experiences. This can boost customer satisfaction and lead to higher conversion rates.
• Chatbots and AI-driven Customer Support - Implementing chatbots and AI-driven customer support systems can improve response times and provide 24/7 assistance, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction.

Enhanced Decision-Making

Informed decisions are pivotal to revenue generation. Technology empowers businesses with access to real-time data and analytics that can guide strategic choices.

• Predictive Analytics - Predictive models can forecast future trends and customer behavior, allowing businesses to proactively adapt to changing market conditions.
• Risk Management - Technology aids in identifying and mitigating risks, ensuring that businesses can protect their revenue and assets effectively.

Are you Ready to Get More Done Through the Use of Modern Technology?

Coleman Technologies is here to help. Give us a call today at (604) 513-9428.

Your computer has a brain, of sorts, in its CPU… a tiny square that literally enables everything the device does, as it processes billions of instructions at a time. Of course, to support this on such a relatively tiny piece of hardware, most CPUs are packed with microscopic transistors—these transistors being small enough to fit hundreds on a single blood cell.

As you might imagine, this means things can go wrong pretty easily… and gone wrong, things have. Many newer computers are suffering from a bug that could cause permanent damage to the CPU… and if you don’t take steps fast, it could be too late.

High-End CPUs from Intel Come with an Unwanted Bug

Intel’s Raptor Lake CPUs can potentially disable themselves due to a bug that affects the high-end processors, particularly if the computer is overclocked. An overclocked computer is one configured to use additional electricity to enhance its performance.

Reportedly, if the CPU requests too much voltage—anything over 65 watts—the problem rears up and makes issues like errors, crashes, or total PC failure more likely.

While it was initially thought that only Raptor Lake CPUs suffered this issue, more reports suggest that more CPUs have seen similar issues. It is now thought that any 13th or 14th generation processor put out by Intel could have this problem, meaning that this issue could stretch to hardware purchased in late 2022.

Fortunately, most laptops will only use 5 to 20 watts, and office PCs in general will cap out at 65 watts unless it is specifically overclocked. It’s far more likely that higher-performance systems, such as those used for video editing, graphic design, or autoCAD, and personal gaming will be affected.

A Resolution is On the Way

As of this writing, Intel is continuing to work on a fix that will prevent processors from heating themselves out of commission. However, despite being called a patch, the fix won’t restore an already-damaged CPU. There is also no recall in place, so if you find yourself starting to experience issues, you may have to deal with the manufacturer directly.

That said, we should point out that most of our clients are unlikely to encounter these issues in their business machines. The affected machines are pretty exclusively upper-end, recent devices, and only exhibit the problem when overclocked. This is most common on gaming machines, which are sometimes overclocked by the manufacturer.

Regardless, this still serves as a valuable reminder that updates and patches are critical. Without this one, certain PCs could cook themselves from the inside out, all the while crashing and otherwise experiencing issues.

Don’t Let Security Patches Pass You By

Granted, you can still run into IT issues even if you keep up with your patches and security updates, but keeping your business’ IT maintained is important if only to keep your risk levels down. If there isn’t diligent maintenance happening on every piece of technology, you’re welcoming in potential risks.

We can help fix that. If you’d like assistance with the necessary management and maintenance of your business’ essential IT, give Coleman Technologies a call at (604) 513-9428.

Small businesses, like any other organization, need to protect various types of data to ensure the security and privacy of their operations. The specific data that needs protection may vary depending on the nature of the business, industry regulations, and the types of transactions or customer interactions. Today, we thought we would go through some common data types that small businesses typically need to protect.

Customer Information

It’s safe to say that the best way to run afoul of your customers is by playing it fast and loose with their personal information. Data such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of your customers have to be protected. This also goes for payment information, including credit card details.

Employee Data

Employee data includes your employees' personal information, like contact details and Social Security numbers. This data needs to be protected like your customer data needs to be. This includes payroll information, bank account details for salary deposits, and other financial data as well.

Financial Records

Speaking of financial data, information like income statements, balance sheets, and tax records all need to be protected for the security of the organization. In many cases, protecting banking information and transaction records must be prioritized. 

Intellectual Property and Legal Documents

IP is the information on why your products and services are unique and effective. This includes information on trade secrets and proprietary information and any patents or copyrights your business has. Of course you also need to protect any contracts, agreements, and legal documents related to business operations as it has information that, if stolen, could have major negative implications for your business.

Website and Online Presence

This includes data related to the company's website, including customer login information and any data collected through online forms. A lot of data is shared online nowadays and you have to be mindful that any data you take in from the web is at risk for theft. 

Health and Safety Records

Employee health information is very attractive to scammers and hackers. Any records related to employee health and safety have to be secured.

IT Information

The technology your business uses holds a lot of sensitive information, even if you may not know it. Access credentials, network configurations, and other information related to the company's IT infrastructure can be useful to hackers looking to infiltrate your business.

It's crucial for small businesses to implement security measures such as encryption, access controls, regular backups, and employee training to safeguard the sensitive data they handle. Additionally, compliance with relevant data protection laws, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or others depending on the industry, is not just mandatory, it has to be prioritized when setting up a comprehensive data security strategy. Regular security assessments and updates to security protocols are also recommended to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

At Coleman Technologies, our knowledgeable consultants and professional technicians can help you with your end-to-end data security strategy and help you support all of the resources needed to make it work. Give us a call at (604) 513-9428 to learn more. 

Across the board, modern businesses rely on no small amount of technology to support their operations, making it key that you, one, have the technology your operations require, and two, have the means to keep this technology operational. Fortunately, managed services help you by providing both. Let’s review what managed services are, and how they work.

Managed Services are the Next Level of Outsourced IT Support

Traditionally, a business seeking assistance with its technology would either have to rely on any internal team members to fulfill their needs, or turn to an external provider to do so by coming in to service their equipment. Nowadays, there’s a third option.

Managed services shift the focus of IT maintenance away from repair and instead focus on mediation, working proactively to prevent issues whenever possible through modern remote monitoring and maintenance activities. As a result, the downtime that was inherently a part of the other methods can be largely avoided.

For a predictable monthly fee, you’ll have an entire team keeping an eye on your business’ technology, catching issues and spotting signs of impending threats before they manifest. This translates to increased productivity and employee efficacy.

A managed service provider also assists a business in its future technology planning, considering where its technology currently stands and designing a strategy focused on improvement and growth over time.

In a Very Real Way, This Makes Managed Services an Easy Way of Expanding Your Business’ Capabilities

To be honest, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what managed services can do for your business, and we’d love to have the opportunity to discuss it with you in more detail. Please give us a call at (604) 513-9428 to learn more about the benefits of a managed service agreement.

When taking stock of your business assets, technology is particularly critical to pay attention to. Let’s discuss why this is and what you must do to manage it properly.

You Rely on Your IT Infrastructure, So Treat It as Such

There’s a lot that your IT enables you to accomplish every day—for most businesses, it’s the majority of their processes. This means that a lot is riding on your technology.

Resultantly, it needs more maintenance than just a scan here or an update there.

To properly take care of an IT infrastructure, there needs to be a comprehensive understanding of every component involved. You also need the tools required to keep track of these components and how well each is functioning—hardware and software alike—to ensure your productivity isn’t suspended needlessly.

As you do so, recorded documentation of your inventory can prove to be significantly valuable.

What Should Your Documentation Include?

Generally, it is a good idea to keep track of a few variables and details:

• All network-attached devices, from the network infrastructure to every endpoint and peripheral
• The date when each component on the network was added
• How each device is configured
• Every license your business holds, with their status
• A comprehensive service history

Having this information at your disposal will enable your IT administrator—whether they’re a part of your in-house team or a part of an outsourced team like ours here at Coleman Technologies—to be more strategic about your IT infrastructure. This includes how you plan out your future investments as well.

If you’d like to learn how we can provide this kind of service to you and your team, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (604) 513-9428 today!

Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur, largely because there’s a lot that can pop up and cause problems that need to be addressed. Let’s discuss how successful business owners rally through tough times to help attain this kind of success.

Starting a business is a huge risk, which pretty much always means that there’s a lot of hope involved. Entrepreneurs move forward under the assumption that they can take something in the world and make it better or reinvent it entirely. As a result, there is the impression that a business owner will need to push their boundaries, or fail.

Of course, there’s taking risks, and then there’s being foolhardy. It’s all about balancing between playing it safe, and putting a little bit out on the line. Let’s discuss a few ways that you can make it easier to step out of your comfort zone a little.

Acquire Information

If you’re going to accomplish any of the goals you set for yourself and your business, you're going to need data. How does your business work? How is payroll handled? How are your business’ taxes paid? What are your acquisition and inventorying processes? Are you in a good relationship with the vendors you rely on? Are you in compliance with any and all applicable regulations?

The list of things you need to know to successfully open and operate a business, as they say, goes on and on.

Plus, this all gets more complicated as your business grows. Knowledge is indeed power, so make sure you are as knowledgeable about your business as possible.

Accept the Responsibilities of Your Role

While it would certainly be nice to just wake up one morning to find yourself the CEO of the most successful, expansive, and profitable business in history, that’s simply not how it works. If you are going to grow your business to any degree, you need to have the right goals in place, as well as the processes to allow you to strive towards these goals. Figure out how to work more efficiently, either by cutting through red tape or by adopting modern equipment that enables automation. Seek out new hires who have proven their worth in their previous positions. Will it take time and effort (and a bit of financial investment)? Sure, but everything that’s worth it tends to do so.

Furthermore, you need to be able to hold yourself accountable when things don’t go as planned. It can be too tempting to cast blame on anyone or anything else—an approach many less-than-admirable managers follow—so you need to commit to honest self-evaluation, regardless of whether your business’ efforts are trending up or down.

Maintain Forward Momentum

So, you’ve managed to expand your business’ comfort zone and embraced more opportunities as a result…time for a break, right?

Wrong.

Complacency is a dangerous thing, especially when you take into account how quickly things can change for a business. Millions of businesses suddenly had to make some very drastic changes a few years ago, and those that didn’t shut their doors after a while. While this wasn’t their fault, per se, their lack of preparedness and adaptability led to their failure.

As a business owner, you’re likely pretty used to pushing your own boundaries. Starting a business, or even taking up the mantle, is a real challenge. It takes grit, and that same grit is required if you plan to advance the company you are in charge of—and, as you’re the one in charge, it is your responsibility to make things better for your customers, employees, and vendors.

Yeah, building a business is hard, but we can at least make any IT concerns a lot easier. Reach out at (604) 513-9428 to talk to us about what we can do for you.

Why Managed IT Services

COVID-19 has managed to close wide swaths of businesses and organizations as people try to stem its spread by avoiding as much contact with others as possible. Any small business owner would understandably be hesitant to make any large shifts in their operations, but it also needs to be understood that the shift to managed services can help relieve many of the challenges that businesses are currently facing—as well as those that may pop up afterwards.

Businesses Can’t Operate if Their Employees Aren’t There

While many businesses truly need to have their employees physically present to function, there are a great many that feasibly could operate on a primarily remote basis, provided they had the right tools. This approach would work well for those who are labelled essential right now, as it could help minimize the number of people present at the workplace and drastically improve social distancing efforts.

By working with a managed service provider, businesses have a resource to help them reach the safest working conditions for their teams. Any personnel who don’t explicitly need to be onsite could be provided the means to remote in, with these solutions managed by the provider for maximum uptime.

Proper Support Services Introduce Additional Risks

That leads us into the next benefit that managed services offer: the support that a managed service provider delivers is primarily using remote monitoring and management tools. This means that if an issue should arise for one of your remote team members, there is a very good chance it can be resolved without either your users or the technician even getting up from their seat.

Managed services will even help you avoid these kinds of issues in the first place with the same remote capabilities. By proactively monitoring for threats and other problems, your provider can spot many of them before they realize, taking the steps to prevent your employees from having any difficulties. As an MSP, Coleman Technologies does this kind of thing every day, and while we can’t catch everything, you can be sure that we will catch the vast majority.

Support Services are Expensive, Especially Now

You may be thinking: so, you’re proposing that I make another investment into managed services when my business is clearly going to experience some tough times?

In some ways, yes, but in the given context, consider it more of insurance instead of an investment.

Let’s say you continue to use the same IT services that you always have, essentially paying per incident to keep your business operational. Doing so gives you no consistency, and therefore is impossible to predict and budget for with any accuracy.

Managed services take a different approach: extensive coverage under an all-encompassing subscription fee. Out of fairness, we should mention that there may be an occasional out-of-scope need, potentially creating the need to adjust these fees slightly. Accepting this relatively rare circumstance, working with an MSP allows a business to accurately budget for their information technology services.

There are many more reasons that a business should strongly consider the services of a managed service provider, especially in these challenging and disconcerting times. If you have any more questions to ask, we are here for you. Reach out to us at (604) 513-9428.

Data backup is essential for any business, yet many employees might not fully understand how it works or what gets backed up. Today, let's clarify the basics of data backup and its importance.

What Gets Backed Up on Your Computer?

Many employees assume their entire computer is backed up, but this is often not the case. Typically, the main component backed up is the server, which varies by organization. This could be a network drive or another shared location.

However, documents not stored on the server may not be backed up if the system isn't configured accordingly. Files saved on desktops, in My Documents, or in Downloads are usually not backed up. It's a common misconception that these areas are backed up, but they usually aren't—especially the Desktop, where files shouldn't be stored long-term anyway.

When in doubt about your company's backup policies, consult your IT administrator or your service provider for clarification.

Consider Your Business Apps and Their Data

Ensure you understand how your business applications are backed up, especially if they are hosted in-house. Sometimes, employees use applications—known colloquially as shadow IT—without the IT department's knowledge. Applications don’t tend to ever get backed up on a corporate backup device, but if the data those applications use is stored in a central location (like on your server) then it should be backed up.

To avoid issues, confirm how and where your business app data is backed up. This awareness will prevent data loss and ensure business continuity.

Expand Your Knowledge of Data Backup Solutions

Understanding your data backup system encourages proper file storage practices and enhances business management. Don't wait—contact us for an IT consultation to discuss your backup systems. It’s a good idea to test a data loss situation at least once a year to see how your business can operate off of its backed up data. Get started today by calling (604) 513-9428.

The IoT

The Internet of Things has been growing incredibly fast over the past five years, but many small business owners don’t know where it fits. That’s because there are tens of millions of devices that could actually serve some purpose for their businesses and basically have buyer’s paralysis or are skeptical that integrating these tools is going to save them money. Here are some ways that the IoT could be used to do just that.

Security

Since physical security is almost certainly a priority for your business, the IoT presents several options that can be used to promote solid security standards. Products such as smart camera systems, smart locks, and other Internet-fueled security solutions can be of great benefit as they will allow a business to have both strong security and deterrents, while also having the ability to manage the system remotely.  

Lighting and HVAC

For many small businesses heating, cooling, and power costs can be prohibitive to their ability to function the way they want. IoT tools are now being developed with the ability to read the situation in your business and adjust the utilities to save capital. The more you save on utilities, the more you can spend on your business. 

RFID Sensors for Inventory Control

RFID sensors have been used for some time. Today, businesses are using them to track their inventories and supply chains. Using IoT devices with inventory control software, a business can now track fast-moving systems such as resource and product procurement and make orders should the inventory get low. The consistency and reliability of these systems can automate large portions of the procurement and inventory management process without a business missing a beat.

Mobile Card Readers

The average small business pays a lot in credit card fees. With mobile card readers, a simple app and dongle can transform a tablet or smartphone into a register. With a fee structure that works to save small businesses money, with card readers they aren’t losing their PCI DSS regulatory compliance; a big deal for the growing business.

As stated above, there are millions of IoT tools out there that can actually help you manage your business or help reduce costs. If you are interested in learning how IoT deployments can help your business, call us today at (604) 513-9428 and our knowledgeable consultants will take you through how Internet and cloud-connected technology can help you transfer your costs and provide you with the innovative tools you need to grow your business.

Whether you know how it works or not, your business has an internal network that connects all of its computing infrastructure and resources. Today, we want to take a moment to demystify some of the common networking equipment you might have on-premises and what it all does to contribute to your business’ continued success.

Networking Equipment You’ll Likely See for SMBs

Aside from the cables connecting everything together (that’s its own separate blog article), you can expect to see three different types of networking equipment on a business’ premises. Of course, the type of equipment used is going to depend on the size of the business, the connection’s purpose, and the available bandwidth or resources on the network.

Network Hubs

For all intents and purposes, network hubs are largely obsolete due to how accessible and affordable network switches have become. Still, we thought we would mention it here, as it helps to understand more about where the technology was and how it has grown since.

The network hub itself is a device for use on a private network, meaning there is no connection to computers that are off the network (like the Internet, for example). Hubs will distribute data packets to all connected devices. Naturally, the hub only has so much bandwidth, so the more devices connected to it, the less available bandwidth there will be for each computer. The resulting slow speeds are a pain for any modern business, and there are better options out there for your networking needs nowadays.

Network Switches

The network switch operates in a similar way to a network hub, but it’s much more focused. Rather than broadcasting your data packets to all connected devices all at the same time, it sends them to the intended destination directly, meaning that bandwidth is saved in the process. They are the better option of the two for your in-house network.

Network Routers

What does the network router do if the network hub and the network switch route data to local computers? It’s simple; it does the opposite. A router allows your network to interface with other networks via the Internet. You can think of it this way: a network switch is what connects your computers to the local area network, and the router is what connects that local area network and its devices to other networks, such as the Internet. In essence, it’s an add-on that provides your network with more functionality.

Of course, the type of equipment your business needs will depend on how many users you have and the types of access you need (local or wireless). If you want to make the best decisions possible for your company’s network infrastructure, we recommend you contact us at Coleman Technologies. Our trusted technicians can help you realize all of your networking needs. To learn more, call us at (604) 513-9428.

To begin, let’s figure out exactly what a data warehouse is.

Understanding the Data Warehouse

A Data Warehouse isn’t to be confused with a Data Center, where you might store your server infrastructure. It is a system for analyzing and reporting on large amounts of data. It helps you predict trends and get a full picture of what’s going on with your business.

In order to understand the purpose of a data warehouse, it helps to look to warehouses in the real world. In short, it’s a place to store stuff.

While this may seem simplistic, it is key to the other functions of a data warehouse. By storing all of a business’ data in a central location, that data can all be referenced against each other - regardless of the original source. This means that you can use this data to generate better analytics than you may have gotten otherwise, simply because you are less limited by the data you have access to.

Selecting a Data Warehouse

Of course, not all data warehouses are the same, and the different types offer different utilities. You also have to consider if the data warehouse itself is sufficient. Let’s go over some of the considerations you will have to make during your deliberations.

What kind of data do you need to store?

For our purposes, data can be split into two types: structured and unstructured.

• Structured data is data that can easily be organized into a spreadsheet. If your data fits the bill, a relational database would likely be a good fit for your needs.
• Unstructured data (or semi-structured data) is data that is presented in less-uniform formats, like geographical data, emails, books, and the like. If you have a lot of this kind of data, you may want to consider utilizing a data lake over a data warehouse.

How immediate does your data need to be?

Your intended use of your data warehouse will have the largest impact on this consideration. Are you looking for business insights, or are you more focused on real-time analytics? If you are looking to find out more about your business, having more data available will give you better answers. If you are using the data warehouse to fuel a predictive analytics platform, you will need less data, as tracking trends can be done with a simple Relational Database Management System (RDMS) and won’t necessarily benefit from access to all of the data your organization stores.

How are the costs structured?

Different data warehouse solutions are priced based on different factors, usually combining the storage used, the size of the warehouse, the number of queries that are run, or the time spent leveraging the solution. Your particular use case will likely influence which solution is most cost-effective for you, whether frequent utilization makes a lower compute cost preferable or a high volume of data makes lower storage costs the logical choice.

Does it work with the tools you use?

Finally, you need to be sure that the solution you are considering is compatible with your business’ other solutions - otherwise, you won’t get the full value from your data warehouse (or create more work for yourself).

Coleman Technologies can help your business manage its technology needs. To learn more about how we can optimize your business processes, call (604) 513-9428.

Business technology can sometimes seem like a hedonic treadmill: you maintain a baseline level of operation with your IT, but it will inevitably fail, leaving you in the tough situation of having to replace it. Today, we want to help you get ahead of the curve a bit with a technology needs assessment. We’ll discuss the benefits of a needs assessment, as well as what it focuses on both now and in the future.

Why Conduct a Needs Assessment?

Simply put, a needs assessment ensures that your business is using its technological assets to their fullest potential.

A needs assessment provides a full picture of how each of your IT solutions are used, as well as the challenges that you face with your infrastructure. It can offer a bird’s eye view of your infrastructure and expose troublesome issues that you haven’t yet addressed. You’ll learn more about how your infrastructure is working, as well as what could be improved upon.

For example, if you discover a persistent problem, you can consider new solutions that can help you address the issue.

Considering the Past, Present, and Future of Your Business

Look, we’ve all made mistakes—especially in business, where one bad decision years ago can influence things even now.

Business IT is the same, and poor decisions or investments that seemed fine at the time could have led to significant challenges. Think about your past decisions and whether they have yielded a return on investment. But don’t dwell on them—we’re simply looking for opportunities for better decision-making, not for reasons to beat yourself up or question your skill as a business owner.

Here’s a list of questions you can ask for your needs assessment:

• Were certain solutions worth the investment?
• Were staff receptive to the implementation of these solutions?
• How much capital was lost during the implementation process?
• Did the solution yield the expected outcome, and if not, why?

Of course, you should also consider the present and future for your business, too, with these questions:

• Can your employees effectively do their work?
• If not, is it a policy issue, a motivation issue, or a technology issue?
• Could a technology solution present a real and tangible opportunity for improvement?
• Where do you want to take your business over the next five or ten years?
• How can you prepare for the unexpected?

What goes Into a Needs Assessment?

Finally, we want to impart a couple of general tips that can help you conduct an effective needs assessment:

• Note your current resources: Before you implement any new solution, it’s crucial that you have an inventory of what currently exists.
• Consider workflows: Sometimes the issue isn’t the technology, and adding more technology will only make it worse. Think about your policies, procedures, and workflows to see if there are any bottlenecks stymying progress.
• Understand your current technology: If you have identified certain goals for your business, consider if the technology you have will support those goals, or if an implementation is needed.
• Explore alternative options: In business IT, there is rarely a silver bullet or a cure-all. Just because one solution works for other businesses doesn’t mean that it will also work for yours. Don’t be afraid to experiment and learn more about other opportunities, and above all else, ensure an appropriate fit before implementation.

If all this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry… we’ve got you covered.

Coleman Technologies can help your business conduct a needs assessment. To learn more, give us a call at (604) 513-9428.

Let’s review some recommended technologies for you to embrace as you reopen your business.

Updated Hardware and Software Solutions

First things first—while businesses resume their operations, the chaos that will predictably ensue is the perfect time for cybercriminals to take their shot. Therefore, you need to make it a priority that all your hardware and software solutions are fully updated or upgraded as improvements are made available. In doing so, you make sure that the tools your team will use are as secure as they can be against the latest threats.

As a bonus, updated solutions commonly come with other improvements and features that add to your potential productivity. This means that your team will be in the position to accomplish as much as they can in the shortest available time without being distracted by security concerns.

Cloud-based Technology

Cloud-based tools have created the opportunity for businesses of all kinds to successfully adopt specialized solutions for their needs. Telework is also made simpler using cloud-based technology solutions, as your solutions are made accessible from wherever your team happens to be working due to its inherent mobility and operational efficiency that your functionality will require.

Monitoring and Maintenance Services

As your team returns to the workplace, there is likely to be a lot of work necessary before your operations are back to 100 percent. One thing is certain: you won’t be able to afford any downtime that could possibly be avoided. 

For this to be the reality inside your office, you will need to ensure your uptime… something that a relationship with a trusted IT professional can do. Using remote monitoring tools to proactively catch burgeoning issues and fix them before they impact your business, a provider like Coleman Technologies can potentially identify and mitigate problems without you ever realizing that you had an issue at all.

Telework and Communication Capabilities

With the ongoing risk that businesses may once again need to close their doors, it only makes sense to have the communication and collaboration tools that would enable true business continuity. The right technology can make the shift to remote work almost seamless, especially if the cloud and its many capabilities are leveraged appropriately. With many capabilities now offered as-a-Service, Voice-over-Internet-Protocol coming to the forefront of communications, and so many other business resources now taking advantage of cloud delivery, your team should be just as capable at home as they are in the office.

A word of warning needs to be shared, however, as remote work can potentially give your team the opportunity to expose your data. If you elect to use the cloud, this makes the next section even more important.

Security and Authentication Measures

For your data to remain protected throughout remote work, you need to have the right solutions and procedures in place for your team to use and follow. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) will enable your team to safely access your business’ data while they are working remotely, and the proper protections on their endpoints will help to minimize their risks.

As far as their access controls are concerned, each team member needs to follow authentication practices that meet a high standard. Their passwords need to meet vigorous security benchmarks, used in conjunction with protections like multi-factor authentication, or MFA. 

Your office also needs to be made impervious to as much downtime as possible to permit your team the most productivity as they work.

For assistance in making any of these preparations, or with any IT challenges you are facing, reach out to Coleman Technologies! Help is only a call to (604) 513-9428 away.

In today’s business, the more robust an IT network is the more risk there is of system failure. This comes down to what is known as Murphy’s Law, which states anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. That’s why when coming up with a defense strategy, you need to mix smart IT management decisions with overwhelming redundancy to have a chance. In this week’s blog, we will outline some of the most common reasons for system failure and why you need a data backup solution.

Reasons for System Failure

Before we start listing reasons that your information systems might see critical failure, we should state that by having a strategy to confront each of these possibilities, you are going a long way toward protecting your business against the costly downtime that these events can cause. Let’s start with outside threats first:

Malware Attack

Nowadays, the threat landscape is getting more and more concentrated with possible malware threats; some of which are really problematic. Malware can come in many different forms and can cause a vast array of different negative impacts to an organization. Some of the worst malware attacks are considered ransomware. This is not only a devastatingly thorough malware, but also an extortion plot aimed directly at your reliance on your IT. 

Ransomware can quickly encrypt and lock down entire computers or your whole network and presents the administrator with a choice: either pay the demanded ransom to get your data back or refuse and risk that information be deleted and/or shared. Most businesses hold a lot of sensitive information, whether it is business-related intellectual property or customer-related personal data, so they are frequent victims of these types of scams. A ransomware will take your whole system down and create a lot of confusion. Maintaining a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy with training, testing, and the deployment of various updated tools at its center is crucial to keep malware from being a problem for your business.

Ineffective Power Management

One frequent problem organizations face is weather; and, it can be a bigger problem for some organizations than others. You see, your technology needs power to run and if it isn’t sufficiently protected, a brownout or a surge can completely decimate your onsite IT. This can destroy critical components and cause data loss.

The best way to combat this is to use a device called an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). This device is powered by batteries so when a power surge happens (typically when the power goes out), it doesn’t affect any of the internal components of your technology. It also has enough power to power down your technology, so that there aren’t any abrupt cuts of power that can render the power supply of your workstations and servers inoperable. 

Poor Policies and Training

In order to keep your business’ IT infrastructure secure, you need your staff to do a lot of the heavy lifting. You also need to put them in a position to succeed. The fact is that the majority of business-altering security problems come from end-user mistakes. It makes it extremely important that you have a workforce that is both cognizant that they will need to be aware of how attacks are levied and what to do to ensure they don’t become organizational problems. 

This can be greatly mitigated by having a comprehensive security training regime in place. You will want to train your people on the best practices of creating passwords, how multi-factor authentication works and why it is important, what variables to look for in their messages to be able to spot phishing attacks and other scams, and why complying with cybersecurity efforts can work to make it much easier for IT administrators to control the security of the information systems they manage. 

Why Data Backup is So Important

These three variables are essential to keeping threat actors at bay, but they are only part of the overall puzzle. One of the most important parts of a data security strategy is to have a comprehensive backup and recovery plan. Not only do you need to have a data backup that is updated regularly (and incrementally if possible), you also need it to thoroughly meet the wide variety of data restoration needs.

Consider for a minute the number of reasons a system can fail or data can be lost. There are quite literally dozens of different reasons why you would need to restore your data. You need a data redundancy plan that addresses the immediate needs of data restoration, longer term outages that could put your organization into flux, as well as the unlikely scenario that your hardware is compromised and destroyed and you need data redundancy that is able to restore from offsite. 

At Coleman Technologies, we offer our Backup and Disaster Recovery service that not only provides you with an incremental backup platform inside your business, it also uploads that data to the cloud to ensure that if something happens to your hardware that you still have access to your business’ crucial data. The fact is that disaster is usually not a situation that happens over time. Problems arise quickly and you need to have solutions to any problem at hand just as fast. 

If you would like to learn more about how our technicians can help you build the technology you need to be successful, or how we have a contingency for all types of business technology problems, give us a call today at (604) 513-9428.

The metaverse is a buzzword that many companies have been throwing around in recent years, but what is it, exactly? You might want to sit down for this one, as it is going to get a little complicated and, perhaps, even a bit confusing. We’ll do our best to unpack what the metaverse is, why there is such an emphasis on it these days, and what you might expect to see from a metaverse in the future.

What is the Metaverse?

You might be surprised to find out that the metaverse is certainly not a new concept. It has existed in some form or another for the past 30 years. The term first appeared in the 1992 novel Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, where it was used to describe a virtual world in which users could buy or sell virtual property and waltz around this virtual reality using their own customized avatars. The components which make up this idea of the metaverse are prominent to this day and exist in various capacities.

Thus, we can make a determination that a metaverse is a virtual environment where individuals can interact with one another in a reality much like our own. It is, for all intents and purposes, a place where you can build your own “virtual life” of sorts.

Why Are Businesses Focused on It?

The reason that businesses are so fixated on the metaverse is because they see it as the natural progression for technologies such as the smartphone and the Internet, for which the metaverse will effectively replace. They see it as an opportunity to create an interconnected virtual reality that bridges gaps between various apps, games, services, and so on. Major proponents of the metaverse like Matthew Ball and Mark Zuckerberg envision this future where the metaverse can be just as interconnected and functional as the modern Internet.

What Does the Future Hold for the Metaverse?

People are of the belief that technologies which enable the metaverse will allow it to flourish. These technologies—virtual reality, the blockchain, and NFTs—would help to make the metaverse a reality by providing avenues for exchanging goods, products, and properties within this virtual space. Perhaps, however, the excitement surrounding the metaverse is just a result of the post-COVID world, where people are starved for interaction with each other and are used to communication solutions like Zoom and other video conferencing platforms.

The idea of the metaverse, however, is held back by issues of interoperability. There are countless technical difficulties that can prevent individuals from transferring avatars and digital possessions from one application or virtual world to another, making the idea of a truly interconnected virtual world difficult to pull off in the way it was initially envisioned.

What do you think about the idea of a metaverse? Do you think it’s a bit far-fetched to imagine a virtual world where we can all interact in the same ways we might in the real world, or do you think there is some merit to investing in the idea? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments.

There are significant benefits to be had by businesses that choose to seek out IT services and assistance from a managed service provider like us. We’re very aware that our word isn’t going to be super convincing on its own, of course, so let’s review what a managed service provider can do and how working with us can help your business.

Let’s begin by breaking down what we are as a managed service provider, and what we provide as such.

What are Managed IT Services, and What Makes Them So Different Than Typical Computer Support?

Managed services are the handling of a company’s assorted IT needs by an outsourced consultancy, staffed with subject matter experts who work proactively to prevent any possible IT issues before they interfere with a client business’ productivity. On top of this, true managed services also involve the active optimization and improvement of the business’ technology—not just preventing issues, but actually counteracting them through increased productivity that’s supplemented by on-demand technical support for a business’ employees.

Just a few short years ago, the term “managed services” was relatively niche. Today, the various attributes that MSPs—managed service providers—offer as an element of their business model have proven beneficial enough that the idea has become more noticeable, if you know where to look.

How to Spot an MSP

First of all, if you’re reading this, you’ve found one of the best options for managed services in British Columbia. However, if you’re one who likes to do their due diligence, a real MSP will generally offer some version of the following services:

• MSPs commonly work remotely, only coming onsite when there’s a need that requires hands-on mediation. This not only cuts down on in-office distractions and interruptions, it allows your issues to be resolved much more quickly.
  
  
• While many traditional IT companies would operate on a piecemeal basis, the ongoing services of an MSP make the subscription model a much better option. Not only does this allow you to more confidently predict your IT maintenance costs and budget appropriately, it also gives the client clear expectations through a pre-arranged service level agreement.
  
  
• Relatedly, rather than offering their services in catch-all blocks, an MSP can customize their services and prices to more exactly fit the needs of a client. Then, if those needs ever change, the MSP can adjust to meet them. This eliminates the tendency for companies to either overinvest beyond their needs, or miss out on clearly beneficial services because the price is too high.
  
  
• Critically, most MSPs offer all-hours support and remote maintenance services, so regardless of when an issue needs to be resolved, someone is there to work toward a solution.

In addition to these services, many MSPs can step in and actively boost your existing in-house IT department. Let’s say you have a few legacy systems that are on their way to being replaced and upgraded, but still need to be supported in the meantime. An MSP is motivated to keep their team educated so they will be able to offer that support if you lack a team member with the required knowledge.

Alternatively, your existing team may not be sufficient to handle both the maintenance of your existing systems and also serve their equally important function of strategizing improvements for the future. With the help of a managed service provider, either one can be taken off your internal team’s plate, allowing them to more effectively serve their role.

Plus, MSPs regularly communicate with assorted vendors to obtain services for their clientele. In these cases, you and the rest of the MSP’s clients effectively join the MSP as part of a cooperative, as an MSP often has access to better deals due to their regular business that can then be passed to you. 

Do the Services of an MSP Sound Beneficial to You?

Now, I know you likely have options to consider, but my team and I would love the chance to talk to you more directly about your needs and challenges so we can better roadmap an approach that would work best for you. Of course, if you aren’t ready for that yet, we’re also here to answer any questions you may have regarding our services.

In either case, give us a call at (604) 513-9428 to learn more.

Modern VR Systems

After nearly 30 years of development, VR has been adopted by a miniscule number of companies. It has, for the most part, made the biggest difference in the entertainment industry, where Samsung and Google have a lot of influence. Sony has also established itself as a major player in the VR gaming industry with its Playstation 4. In terms of business, however, these options aren’t necessarily feasible of beneficial.

Two of the most competitive options in the commercial virtual reality space are the HTC Vive (and Vive Pro) and the Oculus Rift. Oculus is owned by Facebook and has led in VR sales, while the HTC Vive and Vive Pro provides a platform for high-end computing systems that are capable of using VR. These two systems work together to provide high-end VR experiences, even if it’s mostly for gaming.

These VR options give users the ability to bring themselves into a virtual world, thus providing developers with great opportunities to build out software to capitalize on it. The applications built in VR give users the opportunity to explore the earth and space in a way that can immerse them in a simulated reality.

The Immediate Future of VR

The future of VR is leaning more in the direction of reality; unlike great journeys or expeditions to places like the moon or the bottom of the sea, VR will be used to create educational resources and training software.

Some manufacturers have already begun to anticipate this shift, using services like Microsoft’s Mixed Reality (MR) devices with hopes of business integration in 2020 a possibility. While not true virtual reality, this platform integrates virtual elements into reality, providing business professionals with great new options to achieve their goals. It’s safe to say that businesses will find some use for these virtual sandboxes to either improve performance or work out daring new ways to accomplish tasks.

What are your thoughts on VR? Let us know in the comments and be sure to subscribe to our blog.