Here is your February 2019 newsletter. In this issue…
• Letter From the President
• Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 End of Support
• The Weirdest Tech Stories of 2018
• AI’s Weird Innovations
• Employee Highlight of the Month: Russ Torok
• Technology Certifications
• The Battle for Talent
• Dealing With Spam Text Messages and Unwanted Calls
• Complacency Will Cost You
• 3 Steps to Take Immediately If Your Phone is Stolen or Lost
• Upcoming Tech Talks
Now that we’re settled into the new year, it’s not time to rest on your laurels. Staying on top of the latest changes that will affect your company is not a once-a-year exercise. But, it’s doesn’t have to be too time consuming. In fact, we work to keep you abreast of changes in technology, so you don’t have to! We not only strive to protect your organization from potential threats but also provide you information that may enhance operations or allow personal growth. To that end, I wanted to make you aware of a pervasive, significant as well as an education series just for our clients:
Windows 2008 End of Life
While end of life mainstream support for Windows Server 2008 R2 ended in 2015, the bigger impact is looming. As of January 14, 2020, Microsoft will end its support for Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. All three Windows Server 2008 R2 editions are affected – Datacenter, Enterprise and Standard. With the discontinuation of support by Microsoft, no new features or fixes/patches will be released. This leaves your operating system venerable to attacks because security gaps will not be addressed with patches. You can read more in this month’s article. You may not have transitioned already because you are unsure of what to move to. We can help you make the selection that will best serve your company and make this transition as smooth as possible. Please contact your sales rep or click here if you haven’t already to ensure your company is protected and infrastructure is positioned for the future.
Tech Talk 2019
Join us as we kick off Tech Talk 2019 Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. If you haven’t joined us, Tech Talks are a monthly, free, one-hour webinars co-hosted by a member of our staff and a staff member from technology partners like HPE, Microsoft, Aruba, Extreme Networks, Barracuda and more. On Feb. 27, we’ll be talking about how to “Stop Wasting Time Provisioning Infrastructure” with guest host HPE Hybrid IT Channel Manager Craig Rice. You can learn more or register here.
Please let us know if there are ways we can assist you keeping up with and staying ahead of the curve.
From all of us at Networking Technologies,
James Bahm
President, Networking Technologies
3 Ways to Modernize Your IT Security Strategy
Windows 7 is reaching the end of its life and support on January 14, 2020. It’s now time to plan your upgrade to Windows 10.
What’s happening to Windows 7?
Windows 7 (as well as Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2) will no longer be supported by Microsoft after January 14, 2020. This means there will be no more software updates or security patches. Continuing to use the operating system could make you out of compliance with industry standards. Microsoft customer service will also no longer be available for Windows 7.
Empower Your Remote Workforce With Mobile Office Technology
used with permission from HP Tech@Work
Nap-busting machines, “augmented eating” and more
As we begin a new year, it’s a great time to give our brains a fun treat and look back at some of the strangest tech stories we heard about in 2018.
No sleeping on the job
Hoping to catch a few subtle Z’s in your cube between meetings? If you’re in Japan, you’ll have to get another coffee instead, thanks to a new system that senses if you’re sleeping—and blasts you with cold air to wake you up.
Read more →
AI’s Weird Innovations
used with permission from HP Tech@Work
The latest round of far-out advances
Looking for ways AI can innovate your business and inspire your team? Here are some of the latest ways data scientists are using machine learning, computer vision and other AI to help us live on alien planets, watch better movies and even (maybe) smell better.
Employee Highlight of the Month: Russ Torok
Russ Torok – Service Delivery Manager
Russ Torok, Networking Technologies’ service delivery manager, has a career that has taken him from Erie around the world and back. Russ spent a total of eight years in the U.S. Navy in the Records and Data Entry Department. He was stationed on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Forrestal, spending nearly two years at sea where he completed two North Atlantic cruises, two Mediterranean cruises, an Indian Ocean cruise, and a trip up the Mississippi River to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Before coming to Networking Technologies in November 2018, Russ spent 19 years at LORD Corporation where he spent time in numerous internal and external customer-facing roles including server and network operations, global IT service desk and telecommunication, and the aerospace customer service department.
Technology Certifications – February 2019
Congratulations to the following employees who recently earned certifications from our technology partners in January 2019.
Craig Allison
Karen Butts
Jeff Duwe
Chris Schultz
Jim Segal
Anthony Squeglia
The Battle for Talent
used with permission from HP Tech@Work
How you can win
With U.S. unemployment below 4 percent, it’s probably become more difficult for you to find good talent. Not only do you have to cast a wider net across a shrinking pond of potential employees, you’re also increasingly competing with the deeper pockets of much larger organizations.
In fact, according to a recent Goldman Sachs report, 70 percent of small businesses struggle to find and retain skilled talent,
Dealing With Spam Text Messages and Unwanted Calls
used with permission from Norton by Symantec
They’re about as welcome as robot calls and junk mail — spam text messages.
They show up as unwanted and unexpected text messages on our phone screens. That’s aggravating enough, but it gets worse. Whoever is sending you a spam text message is usually trying to defraud you.
Most spam text messages aren’t coming from another phone. They’re usually originating from a computer and being delivered to your phone — at no cost to the sender — via an email address or an instant messaging account.
Complacency Will Cost You
used with permission from HP Tech@Work
Spear-phishing is on the rise
Imagine spending years developing a product your research says will take the market by storm. Grow your small business into a major player. Rewrite the rules for much larger competitors.
Then comes the email from a potential investor who’s just as interested in your market as you are. All you have to do is click a link to learn more about the opportunity he offers. The email looks legit. You even recognize the venture capital firm this individual represents. All good, right?
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3 Steps to Take Immediately If Your Phone is Stolen or Lost
used with permission from Norton by Symantec
The loss or theft of a phone can be very upsetting. After all, you have a lot of important information on that device. But if you take the right steps the moment you realize it’s gone, you may be able to minimize the pain.
What to do if your smartphone is stolen or irretrievably lost
If you’ve determined that your phone isn’t just temporarily misplaced, it’s wise to take more advanced steps to protect your information and identity.
Events & Tech Talk Webinar
A Free Technology Webinar Series 11 AM EST
November 28
The Perfect Storm: Extreme Control and IoT
December 19
Is Cloud the Right Place for Your Compute?
Let’s Get Social
We are now providing customers with regular posts on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Check us out!
Monthly Quote
“Tell me,
what is it you plan to do
with your one
wild and precious life?”
— Mary Oliver
Monthly Cartooon
Networking Technologies ERI 814.836.0000 | BUF 716.216.3104 | CLE 216.487.3104 | service@net-cloud.com Corporate Headquarters: 3910 Caughey Rd. Suite 207 Erie, PA 16506
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