Have You Heard Of The Maryland Cyber Security Tax Credit?

Maryland Cyber Security Tax Credits

Protecting data and information systems is a priority for nearly every type of business and organization. The state of Maryland has recently stepped up to support businesses by passing a bill that enables small businesses to invest in security technologies while earning tax credits. There are several aspects of the Maryland Cyber Security Tax Credit that business executives and managers may not be aware of.

Maryland Cyber Security Tax Credits

What is the Maryland Cyber Security Tax Credit?

The Maryland Cyber Security Tax Credit is an incentive program for companies to buy cybersecurity technology from a cybersecurity provider. This particular tax credit encourages small businesses to purchase cyber technology which will ultimately help protect both their business and consumer information. It’s also being used to help promote the cybersecurity industry. Companies can apply for the tax credit anytime during the year. Applications must be submitted by January 31, however, to receive a credit for the previous year.

A company purchasing the credit can claim 50 percent of the net cost as a tax credit. It’s required that the credit is claimed for the same year that it’s purchased. The tax credit was initiated in 2018 and is awarded by first come, first serve. Currently, $1.5 million in funds is available through the Department of Commerce for cybersecurity technology while $500,000 has been set aside for cybersecurity services.

What are the Particular Benefits of the Tax Credit?

There are several specific benefits for companies when obtaining these tax credits.

  • A company can claim as much as $50,000 in tax credits in one year after purchasing cybersecurity technology from a Maryland provider.
  • A cybersecurity provider can claim tax credits in one year for $400,000 worth of cybersecurity sales.
  • Third parties are allowed to sell cyber security technology if the purchase price is reduced by 20 percent before the 50 percent credit is calculated.
  • Third parties must also have the name of the qualified Maryland provider on the invoice as well as describing the technology that was purchased.

Who is Eligible for the Tax Credit?

The tax credit is for businesses that meet specific criteria. Before receiving the tax credit, it must be determined that the services or products being purchased meet the required definition of cybersecurity technology. Cybersecurity technology must be proprietary goods and services that have been created to protect electronically stored information or data. The products or services are created to prevent data extrusion or unauthorized access to data and information systems. Besides meeting the defined criteria for what constitutes cybersecurity technology, both the provider and the business buying the services must meet several eligibility requirements. The following are a few of the requirements that need to be met.

  • Both the company providing or buying can be inactive business for no more than 5 years.
  • Both the company providing or buying the tax credit must file income taxes in Maryland and employ fewer than 50 individuals.
  • A cybersecurity provider in Maryland must be certified as either the company buying the services or selling to claim a tax credit.
  • To become a qualified cybersecurity provider in Maryland the company must be certified through the Department of Commerce.

How Does the Application Process Work?

There are several steps a business must take to be a cybersecurity provider or to qualify to buy the tax credit. The Maryland Economic Development Association explains the steps for either process. The process to obtain the tax credit or to be a provider both involve providing several types of documentation such as a detailed business plan and a Certificate of Good Standing from the state of Maryland. There are currently eight businesses in Maryland that are qualified to sell cybersecurity technology.

Business owners now have a tax credit option that can help them protect their vital data and information. Maryland has taken a positive step in assisting companies to improve their cybersecurity while promoting local business.

10 Important Tips For Meeting Accessibility Standards With Email

Email Marketing

When you launch an email campaign, you want your message to be read and understood by as many people as possible, and one way to do that is by making your emails accessible to people with disabilities. Those with visual, cognitive, auditory, or mobility impairments have special needs that can be addressed by adhering to some simple practices and assistive techniques to ensure that your message can reach them too. Failing to take steps to include these individuals is not only considered insensitive these days, it’s legally required in many countries, and more to the point, it also costs your business.

Email Marketing

Why Email Accessibility Is Important

There are a lot more disabled people in the U.S. and globally than those who aren’t affected by it personally realize. According to the National Institutes of Health, 37.5 million American adults, or 15%, have hearing loss, 1.3 million are blind, and another 2.9 million have low vision. The Centers for Disease Control says that 25% of adults in the U.S. experience some type of disability, and the World Health Organization states that hundreds of millions of additional people around the world are disabled.

From a business perspective, it has been estimated that people with disabilities in the U.S. have $1 trillion in total income and more than $220 billion in disposable income. That makes them a demographic that most businesses can’t afford to ignore, and if you’re not practicing email accessibility, you’re missing out on a big potential market.

So how can you start making your emails more user-friendly and understandable to those with disabilities? Here are ten methods you can start using right away.

10 Tips For Meeting Email Accessibility Standards

  • Create concise and straightforward content. This is something you should be doing for the benefit of all your readers. Stay away from language that’s too technical and trendy business jargon that can distract readers away from your message. It’s also a good idea to use very clear subject titles to help those using assistive technologies like screen readers understand what the email is about, and to include a link to a plain text version of the email.
  • Use a larger font size. This can be very helpful for those with low vision and for dyslexia sufferers too. Aim for at least 14 pixels or larger for the best results.
  • Consider your use of colors. The use of color can be important for branding and capturing attention, but it can be a problem for those with vision impairment. Text and other types of content need to have a certain amount of contrast against a background color to be visible, with the accepted standard being a ratio of 4.5:1. You can check your emails for the right contrast on any page with this handy online tool.
  • Break up text content with images. You probably already know that it’s good form to keep your paragraphs short and to use subtitles, but placing images that represent a visual depiction of what’s being conveyed in the text between longer paragraphs can help to increase engagement and message reinforcement for all your readers and also help those with disabilities to understand. Keep in mind that if you use animation or graphics that flicker or flash like a strobe that it can cause seizures in people with certain disorders.
  • Use alternative text for images. Alt text is an attribute that can be added to an email to display a box with a text description of what an image is for those who can’t perceive them.
  • Use mobile accessibility designs. With so many people using mobile devices these days, your emails should be mobile friendly for viewing on smartphones and tablets. You can make them even more accessible to those with disabilities by including the ability to easily resize content without using third-party technology and by using large target areas for your CTA buttons.
  • Use HTML5 semantic elements. Use the same heading and paragraph tags that you would use to render content on a regular web page to make your text clearer and more easily understood.
  • Use “presentation” in layout tables. It’s common practice to use tables for layout and formatting purposes in emails, and you can easily make them more accessible by adding the element role=“presentation”. This tells any assistive technology to read the content but to ignore the table properties.
  • Include a text description for hyperlinks. Someone using a screen reader won’t know where a hyperlink is taking them if the text just reads ‘click here’. Adding text to describe the content of the landing page will let them decide if they want to click the link or not.
  • Consider adding transcripts and captions to videos. This is essential for those with hearing and vision impairments and also allows for private viewing or reading in situations where having the sound up is impractical, and when someone wants to understand the video transcript for deeper comprehension and consideration.

Creating emails that are more accessible to people with disabilities is not only considerate to your current or potential customers, but it’s also just good business practice. You can learn more about best practices in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). You should also make use of this helpful checklist, and take advantage of this list of evaluation tools to test your emails.

How To Use @Mentions In Microsoft Office

mentions in Office365

You have a lot going on during the business day and beyond, so any short-cut that adds productivity and efficiency to your day is a nice welcome. Microsoft recently updated its Word, Excel, and PowerPoint programs with a nifty even if simple tool: the @mention.

You have likely been there where you want to make a comment, you do make a comment, and that comment gets lost among all the other comments. Worse yet: the document you are reviewing will be reviewed by not just one but many other people. Without personalization in these comments, everyone will read each comment without knowing for whom it was intended. The @mention is a feature that solves these types of problems — problems that seem trivial at first but which can really add up. Here’s how to use the @mention feature and how to do so with success.

How to Use @mention in Microsoft Office?

The @mention feature is only available using Office 365. It allows you to tag someone who has permission to open the document for feedback by emailing that person with a direct link to the comment. It is really quite simple to use:

  1. Make sure you are signed into Outlook and then sign into Office 365.
  2. Open the document to be reviewed in either your SharePoint library or OneDrive for Business.
  3. Go to Review > New Comment.
  4. Type @-person’s-name within the comment.

The feature, for the moment, however, is only available online and to those who are Office Insiders using Windows or macOS. It is not yet available in iOS or Android.

How to Use @mention strategically?

Using the @mention strategically is what will really make this feature work for you. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Bring a comment to someone’s attention immediately by using @mention. Here, we specifically mean targeting a colleague who may have specific interest or knowledge of the matter or who may be loaded with work and an @mention may be the thing to get his or her attention.
  • For one comment, you can @mention more than one person, so there’s no need to draft more than one comment for the same issue.
  • You can @mention someone without permission to access the document — in this case, Microsoft will ask you to provide permission.
  • Make sure before starting the review that you have given permission to everyone who may also need access to the document so you do not need to worry about this additional step later.

Also, if you are wondering whether or not a person subject to multiple comments will now receive multiple emails, Microsoft has already thought about it, too. Microsoft will batch the links into a single email if there is more than one @mention for the same person.

mentions in Office365

Now that you know how to use @mentions in your Microsoft programs, and how to use it strategically, it is time to get back to get back to being productive. Sign in and try it out and see how soon other reviewers start responding.

Happy Wright Brothers Day – December 17

Wright Brothers Day

On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful flight in a mechanically propelled airplane. To celebrate the accomplishment and commemorate the achievements of the brave brothers, December 17 became Wright Brothers Day by a 1959 Presidential Proclamation. Wright Brothers Day is now honored every year in the United States with festivities and activities.

Wright Brothers Day

A Land of Innovation and Invention

In the nation’s beginnings, the founding fathers had to cross an unfriendly ocean to live in uncharted land. Early settlers made their way across the vast landscape, using their strength and ingenuity to adapt to often harsh conditions.

Over the history of the US, Americans laid track to build railroads to span the nation, while other Americans built the cars that would change the way people live. The Wright Brothers succeeded in their revolutionary flight soon after.

What Was Once Thought Impossible

Before the Wright Brothers launched their flight, most people could not imagine that flight by humans was possible. Earlier efforts to leave the ground were limited, because there was no way to sustain flight or control a contraption in the air. The Wright Brothers knew that they would need to be able to control the wings and nose so that a pilot could navigate while in the air.

While it seems obvious now, their ideas changed the way humans view the world. People felt attached to the earth, trapped in two dimensions. Once people were able to fly, they could see the world from an entirely new perspective. Distances become relative, and the world seems both grander and more interconnected. The boundaries that used to limit people’s activities no longer hold that control over our lives.

Humble but Loving Beginnings

Milton and Susan Wright were the parents of Orville and Wilbur, and they encouraged their sons to learn about whatever they could and to travel to other parts of the world. Mr. Wright was a bishop in the United Brethren Church, and his position caused him to travel a lot for church business. While he was away, he sent many letters and gifts home to his family, exposing them the many fascinating wonders the world has to offer.

Wilbur and Orville started in the printing business and even had their own newspaper for a while. They started their own bicycle business in 1894, making and selling bikes to turn a profit. But their dreams were always bigger.

When Wilbur and Orville started seeing other inventors’ attempts at building flying machines, the brothers figured out where they were going wrong. Their first gliders did not succeed, but the Wright Brothers kept trying until they achieved their dream. The Wright Brothers decided what they wanted to do, and then they realized what other people couldn’t with their own abilities.

6.8M Facebook Users Hit By New Photo Bug

Facebook Bug

Facebook has just announced that a Photo API bug gave app developers access to user photos outside of the scope intended for 5.6 million users. This includes granting apps access to Facebook Stories, Marketplace photos, and photos that were uploaded but not shared. The bug was in effect from September 13th to September 25th.

Facebook Bug

As of now, Facebook is working on releasing tools to allow app developers to determine if they were impacted by this bug, and will work with them to delete unauthorized photos. Facebook will also be notifying any users they suspect may have been affected.

Learn More

If you have any questions or concerns about this latest Facebook bug, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at {phone} or {email}.

Top 5 Cybersecurity Predictions For 2019

2019 Cyber Security Predictions

Cyber threats are a genuine danger for businesses, no matter their size or industry. Companies that face data breaches are likely to fail within months after the attack, according to the National Cyber Security Alliance. Security issues can ruin your reputation and cause expensive damage to your company.

2019 Cyber Security Predictions

In 2019, we are already predicting increased cyber crimes to steal more data and resources. The FBI reported that over $1.4 billion in losses were experienced by companies and individuals in 2017. These expenses come from increasing security, losing information, losing physical resources, ransomware payouts, scams and more. The most significant sources of cybercrime included:

  • Email compromise
  • Confidence fraud
  • Non-payment or non-delivery scams
  • Corporate data breach
  • Investment scams
  • Identity theft
  • Advance fee scams
  • Personal data breach
  • Real estate/rental fraud
  • Credit card fraud

Looking forward into 2019, we are preparing to face some of the biggest and hardest attacks yet. Hackers are working to build faster and smarter tools that get around the security systems and regulations that organizations and companies have in place. Companies have to be prepared for cybercrimes that could wreak havoc on their customers or business. Most industries have strict compliance and regulations to keep data safe and can face fines or even jail time if they are not diligent in their cybersecurity efforts. Here are the five major cybersecurity trends we expect to see in 2019:

Multi-Factor Passwords

The password alone is becoming increasingly easy for hacker entry. Fingerprints, ear scans and even social security numbers are all increased measures of security to help battle cybercrime. Using multi-factor passwords is going to be a crucial part of security for 2019 for both personal data and organizational strategies. A large amount of data breach occurs due to human error or negligence so multi-factor passwords can help decrease some of those occurrences.

Data Privacy and GDPR

The EU pushed businesses everywhere when they required the adaptation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Many companies and organizations that didn’t have dealings in the EU started making changes to prepare for the level of modifications expected so they wouldn’t be scrambling to catch up later. The regulations that went into effect this past May are still going to have a significant impact on 2019.

The Rise of Cryptojacking

Last year, ransomware cost over $1billion in damage, but we see a shift towards crypto jacking as the more popular attack. Ransomware takes a lot of research, social engineering and development. In many cases, the payments have gotten smaller because companies, educational institutions and organizations are refusing to pay the ransom at all. Cryptojacking is stealing cryptocurrencies by leveraging the computers of an unsuspected user without their knowledge or permission.

When a cyber criminal puts the crypto mining program into effect (often in a JavaScript), the system will slow it’s processing power as it also operates the mining efforts. This can cause whole systems to falter, leading to sluggishness or downtime for businesses. Best case means lost productivity, but a worst case might bean major blackouts if the attack occurs on electrical utility computers or huge issues for patients if the attack is happening to a hospital. This method of cybercrime is less time consuming to set up, more accessible for the hacker to implement, provides a higher payout and often is harder to track.

AI Attacks

We are seeing a heightened increase in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) that cybercriminals are using to focus their attacks. Hackers are using these systems to train and fine-tune their own programs with malicious intent while maintaining a strategic distance.

IoT Regulation

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a grouping of intelligently connected systems that might include vehicles, devices, appliances, electronics, software, connectivity and actuators. These primarily are unregulated and we expect 2019 to be the year when the security issues here may finally be addressed. This may require certifications or a governmental agency to step in and formulate laws. With increased connectivity, the threat of IoT security breaches are genuine public safety concerns and shouldn’t be taken so lightly. Companies that produce these connective devices and software should already be carefully considering these concerns and how to best keep the users protected.

We know tech threats are a genuine issue for your business. Outsourcing tech support or tech help is one way to ensure you have all of your bases covered. If you need help implementing security, contact us today. We offer the strategies, technology and expertise to keep you protected!

Sextortion Scam Pretending To Come From Your Hacked Email Account

Sextortion Scam

A recent sextortion scheme highlights the vulnerability users face when their data is stolen and used against them.

The widespread threat made it seem as though a hacker had compromising video of a victim taken while visiting adult pornographic websites. The scammers threatened to release the video unless they were paid in bitcoins.

Sextortion Scam

Here’s a closer look at the threat and how to prevent such ruses in the future.

What Happened in the Sextortion Case?

The latest fraud was different from earlier sextortion cases in one significant aspect. Victims were targeted with an email that appeared to come from their very own email account.

In the past, similar hacks used passwords to an adult website that had been stolen in a data breach. The scammer would threaten to release information about the victim’s activity in exchange for cryptocurrency.

Are These Schemes Successful?

The risk of public embarrassment is a powerful motivator for many victims who would rather pay than be exposed for visiting questionable websites. The recent scheme was first noted in the Netherlands, where it reportedly netted €40,000 in short order. That kind of quick cash is highly motivating to hackers looking to make a large amount of money fast.

What Did the Sextortion Email Say?

The English version of the scam had a subject line that included the victim’s email address and “48 hours to pay,” e.g. “username@example.com 48 hours to pay,”

In broken English, the scammer claimed to be part of an international hacker group that now had access to all accounts and gave an example of a stolen password.

Throughout several months, the email alleged, the victim’s devices were infected with a virus from visiting adult websites. Now, the hackers had access to a victim’s social media and messages.

“We are aware of your little and big secrets … yeah, you do have them,” the email continued. “We saw and recorded your doings on porn websites. Your tastes are so weird, you know.”

The email further claimed to have recordings of the victim viewing these websites and threatened to release them to friends and relatives. It demanded payment of $800 in bitcoin within 48 hours of reading the message. If the funds were received, the data would be erased. If not, videos would be sent to every contact found on the victim’s device.

For unsuspecting victims, receiving such an email could be terrifying. That’s why so many people succumb to such demands and pay up.

What Can Users Do?

While it’s easy to be scared into sending payment, the reality is that these emails can be ignored and deleted. It’s a good idea after doing so to run an anti-virus scan on all your devices to be sure that there is no malware installed.

Many of these scams occur because a domain has been hacked. However, these vulnerabilities can be eliminated by using some basic protections. Using domain name system (DNS) records designed for email validation and authentication are an essential first step. Here are three of the most common:

  • SPF. A sender policy framework (SPF) verifies that an email that claims to come from a domain is associated with an authorized IP address. An SPF can detect faked sender email addresses in spam filters. Hackers are less likely to target such domains for phishing attacks.
  • DKIM. DomainKeys Identified Email (DKIM) lets an email receiver verify that an email coming from a domain was authorized by that domain. Senders need to attach a digital signature to each outgoing message that’s linked to a domain name. The recipient’s system can compare that signature to a published key.
  • DMARC. Layered on top of SPF and DKIM is domain-based message authentication, reporting and conformance protocol (DMARC). Established in 2011, DMARC allows email senders to publish policies about unauthorized email. Also, email receivers can provide reporting to those senders. Both are designed to build a domain reputation and credibility about Domain-issued emails.

Your users and domains are vulnerable to hackers looking to exploit technology to shame people into paying. With the right technology assessments, security protocols and safeguards in place, your systems will be protected and dissuade hackers from attacking your sites in the future.

What’s The Difference Between Computer Repair and Network Computer Services?

Computer Network Services

The fundamental difference between computer repair and network computer services is that computer repair is a very reactive concept. Something breaks, you call your trusted technician and they make the fix — and bill you for time and materials while your staff members wait for their technical problems to be resolved. With network computer services, the model is entirely different. You enter into a longer-term partnership with an organization which works closely with you to create a proactive support infrastructure which often allows your staff to continue working even while a problem is being solved. Businesses that are looking for a way to normalize their annual IT costs and provide predictable service levels should investigate network computer services.

Computer Network Services

Why Are Technology Fixes So Expensive?

When you think about it, it makes sense why it’s so expensive to have a consultant or team come into your business and resolve a problem. Not only are they taking on a fair amount of liability for a short-term relationship, but they also have a substantial ramping up time and effort each time you need to have a problem resolved. This methodology is called “break-fix” for a reason: something breaks, and you invite someone to come fix it. This is especially problematic when you consider the costs of a break-fix solution include internal IT or management time, additional contracts or scoping of a work project, lost productivity for business staff . . . Plus the additional upcharge for the services that are rendered by your consultants. All of these items can quickly add up to make a small issue become a much larger cost than initially expected. What’s worse is that it’s nearly impossible to budget for specifically when something is going to break.

How Can I Accurately Project IT Costs?

Holding a pattern in your technology costs can be a challenge. Business units are always looking for additional functionality for their budget dollars, and it can be difficult to justify why that project didn’t get completed due to lack of funds. When you have to divert dollars from an upcoming project to pay for an unexpected problem resolution, it can raise eyebrows and cause questions from leadership. One of the most effective ways to ensure that you’re able to accurately predict the costs to maintain your business infrastructure is to work with a network computer services partner. This type of relationship comes with a variety of benefits, such as the assurance that patches are resolved and applied quickly and accurately to your software and hardware.

Can Network Computer Services Improve My Security?

Internal technology leaders or teams are nearly always overworked, with more projects than they can possibly accomplish in a year. Unfortunately, this can mean that there are difficult decisions to be made: do you schedule a security review and patch your software or do you get started scoping that new website that marketing desperately wants? Both activities require time from the technology team, but there are risks down either path. If you decide to put off a new projects for a security review, you take the chance that teams will begin doing their own development and open up security risks. If you take on the new project, you’re risking a cybercriminal finding a way to infiltrate your network security. This is the type of challenge that is tailor-made for a network computer services team, as they can help resolve your infrastructure security challenges and provide internal teams with an opportunity to support new business requirements. Ongoing, scheduled maintenance and robust security procedures help protect your organization and your sensitive customer data. These updates and proactive monitoring are crucial to ensuring that your organization does not fall subject to the latest malware or phishing tactics.

Working with a managed services provider has a range of benefits: more predictable technology costs over time, improved network security and technology maintenance and better overall experience for your business users. Working with a network computer services organization provides your team with the in-depth knowledge and additional skill sets to supplement their own expertise. Your trusted services provider is able to leverage best practices from across various industries to offer you superior remote service and ongoing support, depending on your particular contract levels.

Hacked Passwords Leading to Increase in Sextortion Scams

Sextortion

It seems computer hackers will go to any length to complete their scams and wrestle money out of the hands of their victims. In one of the latest scams to come to light, hackers are finding real passwords and then using them to send emails threatening to expose people for watching porn. The unsuspecting victims receive an email disclosing part of a password associated with the email account that states the sender has set up a camera and filmed the recipient using a legitimate porn website. Unless the victim pays a ransom using Bitcoin, the sender of the email threatens to disclose the video to people closest to the victim.

Sextortion

Sextortion: A New Twist on an Old Plot

Many people receive so many scam emails that they no longer bother to open them. The scammers behind the sextortion scam hope to catch people’s attention by disclosing some or all of their email password immediately. If that works, the email goes on to describe how the hacker installed malware on a porn site while the email recipient was viewing it. However, it does not stop there. The hacker claims to have collected all of the victim’s contacts from Facebook, the Messenger application, and his or her email address as well.

As the email continues, the hacker threatens to send the supposed video of the recipient viewing porn to everyone on the contact lists mentioned above. The only thing the person receiving the email can do to stop this is to pay a ransom within 24 hours. The threatening language continues by informing the reader that the sender of the email knows the message has been read and not to waste time replying to it. In short, the reader should send the money or else.

Hackers Using Old Information

There is an element of truth in the sextortion email people receive in that some recipients have reported that the password is one they have used in the past. However, no one who said this scam had used the exposed passwords in more than 10 years nor have they used them on their current computer. The most likely explanation for the scam is that hackers obtained passwords from a security breach at a well-known website more than a decade ago. They merely added scripts to go with the passwords to make the scam seem more legitimate.

The Ruse is Getting More Sophisticated

Hackers have learned from this attempt at so-called sextortion that they must use more current information and a believable script to get anywhere with their intended victims. They now search for as much personal data as they can find online to convince the email recipient that the threat is real. Some have gone so far as to use illegal password lookup services associated with email addresses. The people behind that data breach have reportedly stolen billions of username and password combinations that they then sell to other scammers.

Yet another modern twist on sextortion is for hackers to email everyone with the information listed on a newly hacked customer database. In addition to demanding large sums of money, some of these scammers are demanding that the victims send nude photographs of themselves and other sexually explicit material. Some are so bold as to demand an in-person meeting where the victim must provide them with sexual favors to avoid having their private information exposed to everyone they know.

How Internet Users Can Protect Themselves from Sextortion

The FBI has received enough of these complaints to create an official document warning people of its dangers. It recommends that anyone who accesses the Internet regularly follow these steps to protect themselves from sextortion scams:

  • Make sure the web camera is turned off or covered when not in use
  • Never send a compromising image to anyone regardless of who they claim to be
  • Do not open email attachments unless the sender is well-known and trusted

To add even greater pathology to this scam, perpetrators are often adults disguising themselves as teenagers. They depend on younger recipients to be more naive about online scams and to fall for their demands without question. Anyone who feels they have been targeted for a sextortion scam via email should forward the email to the FBI as well as contact them immediately.

What Are The Top Tech Events in 2019?

Tech Events 2019

Attending the top tech events in 2019 is mandatory for managed IT service companies. While it may be impossible to stay ahead of cybercrime, IT professionals should invest time and money to stay proactive to help their clients plan for unidentified threats.

Tech Events 2019

Keynote speakers at these top teach events provide valuable insight on how to communicate the very real threats that continue to evolve for every business so that your clients invest in technology to help protect themselves from security breaches.

Calendar of Tech Events

Find top events in the United States and abroad. Make plans to attend several.

January 15, 2019 – January 18, 2019, Austin, TX.

RStudio Conference 2019. Host and RStudio Chief Scientist Hadley Wickham and confirmed keynote speakers David Robinson, Felienne and Joe Cheng will be updating attendees with the state of the art and future of data science.

February 25, 2019 – February 28, 2019, Barcelona, Spain.

MWC Barcelona. This is the “original” World Congress of mobile. Explore mobile topics from AI to Digital Wellness and Digital Trust.

March 4, 2019 – March 8, 2019, San Francisco, CA.

RSA Conference USA. Industry expert keynote speakers and seminars on the latest cybersecurity enhancements.

March 8, 2019 – March 17, 2019, Austin, TX.

SXSW. The mother of all conventions – from music and culture to technology. You’ll find coding, cryptocurrency, medical technology and VR/AR/MR.

March 18, 2019 – March 21, 2019, Orlando, FL.

Enterprise Connect. Discover your options when replacing or upgrading a legacy system. Get unbiased, vendor-neutral advice on implementing next-gen communications.

March 18, 2019 – March 20, 2019, Ponte Vedra, FL.

AGENDA19. Especially designed for C-level, VPs, Directors and Managers as they plan to lead their businesses in changing times.

April 9, 2019 – April 11, 2019, Las Vegas, NV.

Atlassian Summit. From training and certifications to a diverse group of speakers, you’ll change the way your teams work.

April 9, 2019 – April 11, 2019, San Francisco, CA.

Google Cloud Next. Google shares its latest cloud technology so you can choose the appropriate cloud-native devices for yours or your clients’ needs.

April 23, 2019 – April 25, 2019, San Francisco, CA

Slack Frontiers 2019 (SF). Attend this event to study teamwork development skills you can use to lead your team toward more productivity.

May 28, 2019 – June 1, 2019, Taipei, Taiwan.

Computex Taipei. This giant Asian show is especially for those interested in ICT supply chain and IoT ecosystems.

July 14, 2019 – July 18, 2019, Las Vegas, NV.

Microsoft Inspire. All of Microsoft’s partners in one place at one time.

August 3, 2019 – August 8, 2019, Las Vegas, NV.

Black Hat USA. Arrive early for four days of hands-on security training followed by a two-day conference concentrating on security development and trends.

October 22, 2019 – October 24, 2019, Los Angeles, CA.

MWC Americas. Emerging technologies and trends as “mobile” changes the world.

November 19, 2019 – November 22, 2019, San Francisco, CA.

Dreamforce. Annual symposium for Salesforce customers. See the newest devices and apps that connect to your client’s customers.

TBA. San Jose, CA.

WWDC. Experts expect a spring meeting to showcase new hardware and software, perhaps with a focus on Apple TV and media-related hardware including new AirPods or over-the-ear headphones.

TBA. Mountain View, CA.

Google I/O. Developers worldwide look forward to this annual conference for hands-on learning and seminars with Google experts. Attendees also get the first look at Google’s newest developer products.

TBA. Seattle, WA.

Microsoft Build. Everything Microsoft all in one place – over 350 sessions that cover Azure, Visual Studios and Microsoft 365 plus emerging technology.

Begin planning now. Book hotels and flights early to ensure a stress-free tech event. Register early to earn early-bird discounts on fees. Follow these 13 tips to get the most of every tech event you attend.