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Blog Articles from ATS Communciations

The Importance of Cyber Security Awareness Training

February 10th, 2023 by admin

A person using an e-learning platform to learn new skills and gain knowledge

Cyber security awareness training is a program designed to educate employees about the risks of cyber-attacks and other digital threats, the importance of establishing secure online practices, and how to respond if they become victims of an attack....

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Posted in: Services

Four Security Threats Your Company Could Face in 2018

January 16th, 2018 by admin

Close up view of network Ethernet cables plugged into ports on a switch/router

Hot off the tail of the massive 2017 Equifax breach that exposed personal information of 143 million customers, businesses are on high alert concerning IT security in 2018. While the IT security industry has been successful in mitigating and cracking...

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Posted in: Security

Putting Unused Computers Back to Work

December 28th, 2017 by admin

Black MSI laptop with red highlight coloring, opened and facing the viewer

There are many ways to reuse an old computer. Replacing an old computer that still works is a good feeling.   The device survived the replacement cycle. However, some desktops and laptops have the potential to lead second lives in the workplace. Re-assigning...

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Posted in: Solutions

Latest Popular Smartphones Significantly Dip in Drop Test Performance

November 22nd, 2017 by admin

iOS device with cracked and broken screen in the bottom left side

After years of improving smartphone glass durability, a shift design is bringing back the perils of dropping the device only to discover the glass has cracked on impact. The newly released iPhone 8 and iPhone X aren’t doing well in drop tests, with screens...

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Posted in: Support, Solutions

Don't Neglect Surge Protectors in Your Workplace

November 16th, 2017 by admin

Isolated black surge protector strip with 6 outlets

Businesses use surge protectors every day without thinking about them; however, they are an incredibly important piece of technology that can make the difference between a $20.00 and a $2,000.00 equipment replacement. While uncommon, a power surge can...

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Posted in: Support, Solutions, Knowledge

Problems with Power Loss: Tips for Workplace Computer Battery Backups

November 8th, 2017 by admin

View of the backside of a wooden desk with 2 Apple computers and an Apple laptop, all in gray

It's inevitable: employees working hard on a time-consuming project and then out of nowhere, the lights start to flicker and the power goes out. Suddenly, those workers express their frustration by pulling out their hair because they've just lost hours'...

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Posted in: Knowledge

Alternative Employee Device Security: Fingerprints, Facial Recognition, and Iris Scans, Oh My!

October 17th, 2017 by admin

Stylized magnifying glass resting on three oversized fingerprints

So far, 2017 has been an eventful year for increasing access to password-alternative smartphone and laptop unlocking techniques. Notably, Samsung added Face unlocking to the Galaxy S8 line and Apple introduced Face ID on the iPhone X. Of particular note,...

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Posted in: Security

Wireless Charging in the Workplace: iPhone Joins Android

October 10th, 2017 by admin

Hand holding a white iPhone plugged in and charging from empty

Wireless charging in the workplace has the potential to make it easier for your employees keep their arsenal of devices running throughout the day with fewer of those pesky low battery warnings. Until recently, wireless charging hasn't been as good at...

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Posted in: Solutions

Equifax Breach: What does it teach us about IT security?

October 3rd, 2017 by admin

Highly zoomed icon of a hand-shaped cursor clicking on a link labeled 'Security'

The 2017 Equifax hack is teaching a painful lesson about the necessity of businesses keeping up with software patches for IT security and to avoid catastrophic damage. The hack, which resulted in potentially exposing the financial information necessary...

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Posted in: Security

Flash Drives: A Productivity and Security Guide

September 26th, 2017 by admin

Wireless dongle, USB drive, micro SD chip, and 2 SD chips on a field of black

With proper planning, your business can take advantage of USB flash drive technology to increase productivity, while eliminating most of the medium's inherent risk. The USB flash drives likely lying around your business offer excellent opportunities to...

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Posted in: Security, Solutions

Screen Mirroring Mini-Guide

September 19th, 2017 by admin

Conference room with dark wood table, black and silver chairs, a speaker phone, and a tv display on the far wall

Setting up your conference room for wireless screen mirroring is the answer to employees sharing in a collective groan when it's time to connect a computer or mobile device to show a presentation. While setting up the conference room television or projector...

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Posted in: Knowledge

The System Is Down: How To Stay Online When Your Service Provider Is Offline

September 12th, 2017 by admin

Stylized icons that indicate free WiFi is available

It's easy to take a functional Internet connection for granted until it's no longer working. When that Internet connection inevitably goes down, your business could be left scrambling to figure out how to keep working until service is restored. The best...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services, Solutions

3 Lessons SMBs Can Learn From Retailers On Thanksgiving Weekend

September 6th, 2017 by admin

Two monitors with arms reaching out of them, exchanging a gold credit card for purchased items

Online retailers are already working on business strategies for the Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday online shopping weekend months in advance. These three days are the busiest online shopping days for retailers, bringing in nearly $6 billion...

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Posted in: Knowledge

When Windows 10 Support Stops

August 22nd, 2017 by admin

Dark wood desk with a Mac desktop, a gray MacBook Pro, and a white table resting on it

In July of 2017, some Windows 10 users received an error message when trying to install the Creators Update, stating, "Windows 10 is no longer supported on this PC." This first-of-its-kind problem stems from an incompatibility with a handful of Intel's...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services, Solutions

The Internal SMB IT Security Threat: Overconfidence In Cyber Security Preparedness

August 15th, 2017 by admin

Email application displaying '1 New Message' on a smartphone screen

According to a 2017 published study by Advisen and Experian, one of the biggest threats facing small businesses comes from within, such as overconfidence in the organization's ability to protect itself and recover from cyber security attacks. While businesses...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services, Security

Looking at USB/NFC Keys for Extra Account Security

August 1st, 2017 by admin

White security icon spotlighted on a dark field of colorized programming code

Hijacked accounts are an IT security nightmare, so it makes sense for your company to look at new technology for better ways to keep your digital assets safe. While security professionals are working out new ways to look at what account credentials are,...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services, Security

Avoiding Hardware Overkill: IT Consulting to the Rescue

July 18th, 2017 by admin

Close up of a circuit board

Spending far too much money on excessively overpowered computer hardware can quickly deplete your company's IT budget, taking funding away from other important expenses. Two exciting products released in June 2017, Apple's new iMac Pro ($4,999) and Intel's...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services

Flaws in 2-Factor Authentication Methods Could Leave You Vulnerable

July 11th, 2017 by admin

Close up of a businessman holding a Microsoft smartphone in his hands

If your business is using 2-factor authentication or 2FA, methods to secure your important accounts, you may need to investigate better ways to implement the practice. Security experts widely recommend using 2FA, a system which utilizes a second security...

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Posted in: Security, Knowledge

Amazon Alexa in the Workplace: What Could You Do With a Virtual Assistant?

June 20th, 2017 by admin

Graphic of six people-shaped figures with question speech bubbles above them

Amazon Alexa, the voice-based intelligent personal assistant you may have seen an early adopter friend use at home, has surprising business use potential to increase productivity in the workplace. Like Apple's Siri, Google Assistant, and Microsoft's...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services, Services

Intranets and Small-To-Medium Business Productivity

June 13th, 2017 by admin

Finger touching an array of icons laid out on a pale blue background

Many small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) have taken to hosting their own intranet to increase productivity in the workplace. For those unfamiliar with the term, "intranet" is not a typo, but rather an internal network that behaves like a private Internet....

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Posted in: Solutions

The Cost of Memory: Trends to Impact Your Upgrade Cycle

June 6th, 2017 by admin

Close up view of a 16Gb G-die DDR3 SDRAM chip K4B1G0846G

Computer memory market trends could play a role in your business’s decision on when to upgrade or replace employee computers. According to PC World, the technology research experts at Gartner predict that prices for both RAM and Solid State Drives (SSDs)...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services

Android and IOS: Is the Device Just Old, or Is It Obsolete?

May 23rd, 2017 by admin

Relief drawing of a pocket watch with roman numerals I through XII

When trying to determine if a piece of technology is simply old or completely obsolete, keep in mind that there are different criteria for Android and iOS devices than for desktop and laptop computers. An employee stuck using an obsolete device is likely,...

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Posted in: Support, Solutions

How a Managed Service Provider Can Increase ROI and Influence Long-Term Business Success

September 30th, 2013 by admin

Two puzzle pieces being drawn in the air, one saying 'partner' and the other 'ship'

Partnering with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) is one of the most important decisions you can make to ensure the longevity and productivity of your SMB. Why? An experienced MSP is a true business partner, reduces and streamlines IT costs, and takes...

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Posted in: Managed IT Services