The Top 3 Considerations For Managing Your Remote Employees

Are you considering making remote work a part of your business’ operations long-term? Then make sure you keep these important considerations in mind going forward. 

3 Best Practices For Managing Remote Workers

Is remote work a permanent part of your business model?

This approach can take many forms. Maybe your staff follows a hybrid work arrangement, where they’re in the office some days and at home for others. On the other hand, maybe you have staff members that work full-time in the office, and a team of remote workers that operate on the other side of the world. 

To whatever degree you manage remote team members, one thing is clear—you have to do so carefully. 

The Pitfalls Of Remote Work

Plenty of managers and business owners have made big mistakes with remote workers. The process of giving up in-person managerial control of the workplace can be daunting if you’re used to it being that way. 

This often leads to remote team leaders micromanaging their staff members, scheduling too many check-in meetings, and tracking time down to the minute. We’ll make this clear: there’s no faster way to disengage a remote employee than by wasting their time with your managerial insecurities. 

However, with the right approach to your management strategy, you can fully activate your staff members while they work remotely…

4 Tips For Managing Remote Workers

Over Support & Under-Manage

The core issue at play with remote workers is obvious: when staff members are not in your office, how can you effectively manage them? The key is to make no assumptions about what they have, and make every assumption about what they will produce (until proven otherwise, of course). 

In other words, you should be committed to equipping your remote workers with each and every resource they need to succeed, and then trust them to deliver the services or goods they have agreed to. You should only micromanage the quality of their work experience; not their performance on the job. 

For example, ask about their home “workplace”. The space one works in is an important part of productivity. Make sure your remote worker is in a comfortable, distraction-free space that is as similar as possible to your normal workplace.

This may require investing in an office chair or a second monitor. Not everyone will have the necessary tools at home, and so, it’s recommended that you have a number of remote work bundles ready to go to maintain continuity and security:

  • Laptop
  • Monitor(s)
  • Keyboard and mouse
  • Phone system and headset
  • Business-class firewall 
  • AV Software

Promote Balance

Encouraging a balanced workday is important for the productivity and morale of your staff. Make sure that they are taking breaks to stay hydrated, relax, and stretch.

This will help them to be more focused and productive when they are working. Additionally, it is important to set a good example for your staff by maintaining a balanced workday yourself.

Keep in mind that this does not have to be part of a staff-wide social initiative. You do not need to schedule a group “desk yoga” break after lunch every day, as these types of activities will more often than not wear down the goodwill among remote staff. 

Instead, make sure you provide space for your remote team members to decompress. This may be a matter of encouraging them to take a walk after lunch or providing an employee-only social Slack channel (no management allowed!)

Make Sure Everyone Knows The Plan

You need to be sure that everyone is on the same page with respect to communication. Some staff members may update you multiple times per day, while others may not communicate at all unless there is an emergency. 

Establish a policy for when and how communication should take place, and make sure that everyone follows it. This will help to ensure that everyone is kept up to date with what is happening.

Our advice is to develop a culture of communication that is both ubiquitous and brief. This has the two-pronged benefit of ensuring regular communication is encouraged, without wasting anyone’s time in the process of drafting long emails or sitting through long meetings. 

Consider the following benchmarks:

  • Direct messages should be as short as possible (one-word responses aren’t rude—they’re efficient).
  • Emails should be 2-3 sentences.
  • Phone calls should be <5 minutes.
  • Meetings should be <30 minutes.

Essentially, whatever you or an employee needs to communicate should fit into this hierarchy. If you can’t address the topic in a DM, then fit it into an email. If it doesn’t fit into an email, then have a quick phone call. All of this should funnel up to your weekly or monthly staff meeting, which is likely the longest staff-wide event on the regular calendar. 

Activate Your Team While They Work Remotely

The bottom line is that managing a remote staff is largely a matter of surrendering the control you got used to in the conventional, in-person workplace. You cannot micromanage your remote staff, and so, it’s up to you to build an environment of trust, support, and productivity. 

We know that one big challenge for business owners when it comes to remote work environments is technology. What tech does your remote staff member need? How do you ensure they have secure access to company files? Is their home network secure enough to trust?

If you need expert assistance, allow us to help. Book a meeting with us to talk further.

Remote, On-Site, Or Hybrid—Which Work Model Is Right For You?

Are you looking into establishing a new work model for your business? Executed correctly, the right work model can come with a lot of advantages.

What’s your business’ current work model? 

Over the past two years, you’ve likely engaged in some degree of remote work for your staff. Going forward, however, you may assume you’re stuck with one of two potential scenarios:

  1. Your entire staff returns to work in the office
  2. All of your staff continue to work remotely

We want you to know there’s a compromise between the two: hybrid work. It’s a middle ground between the two options and offers you the best of both worlds. 

Striking A Balance Between Remote Work & The Office

The core aspect of the hybrid work model is that it lets you enjoy the benefits offered by remote work without sacrificing your in-office community. 

Employee by employee, one person may prefer remote work, and the other may instead prefer to work in the office. Instead of having everyone fit into one model, you can cater to both sides. 

After all, these two opposing models offer competing advantages. Remote workers have seen a number of key benefits:

However, for all the ways remote work is beneficial to both the organization and end-users, it’s not without its challenges. A study found that remote workers across the country encountered a series of challenges in their daily work life:

  • 19% experience loneliness
  • 17% have difficulty communicating and collaborating
  • 8% have trouble staying motivated

So how do you reconcile these many pros and cons that come with either option? Compromise with a hybrid work model. Doing so harnesses all the advantages and none of the disadvantages of both choices:

  • Employees spend a portion of their work time at home, focusing on key tasks and projects
  • The remainder of their hours are in the office, where they are available for meetings and can contribute to a social company culture

That said, it’s not as though hybrid work presents absolutely no obstacles to managers and business owners…

Key Challenges Associated With Hybrid Work

The most important consideration is your technology. Security is a complicated undertaking for work models that include remote work. In fact, 36% of organizations have dealt with a security incident due to an unsecured remote worker.

Continuing with a remote work model, whether entirely or in part, will require:

  • Enhancing security measures
  • Providing the right hardware for users working permanently from home
  • Implementing more permanent file-sharing, collaboration, and communication tools

How To Protect Your Hybrid Business

In optimizing your hybrid working model, make sure to consider the following best practices for your cybersecurity:

Identify Risks

In order to confirm your security capabilities, you need to conduct a cyber risk assessment along with a vulnerability scan of your systems. This will help you identify potential vulnerabilities, and develop the starting blocks to a secure long-term hybrid management plan.

Train Your Staff

As some of your staff will be working from home, it’s more important than ever to ensure they receive proper awareness training. Without proper supervision, they are at greater risk of compromising the security of your business data or falling for phishing scams. Make sure they understand how to maintain business cybersecurity from their home office. 

Deploy Security Measures

Your hybrid environment will require a combination of threat monitoring, firewalls, and antivirus solutions. These defenses will form a comprehensive cybersecurity posture to protect your office network as well as your employees while they work remotely.

Need Expert Assistance Managing Your Hybrid IT Environment?

If you plan to continue with remote work in one way or another, you may need to change your model of IT support. As you and the other C-level executives at your business have likely discovered since the start of the pandemic, your ability to work remotely depends directly on your IT support. 

We can help—we’ve developed extensive experience in helping our partners to launch, optimize and secure remote work capabilities. Now that the mad rush to go remote is over, it’s time to perfect your processes, and you don’t have to do so alone. 

Get in touch with our team today to get started.

DuckDuckGo for Mac: Privacy-Minded Browser with New Security Features

Duck Duck Go Mac

DuckDuckGo for Mac: Privacy-Minded Browser with New Security Features

  • DuckDuckGo for Mac is now available with new privacy features to help keep user data safe.
  • These features include automatic pop-up protection, a dedicated YouTube player, email protection, and more.
  • DuckDuckGo for Mac is a good choice for privacy-minded users who want to protect their data from hackers and other threats.

Duck Duck Go Mac

DuckDuckGo for Mac Released With New Privacy Features

With the growing concerns around online privacy and data security, DuckDuckGo has become one of the leading providers of tools to help users stay protected online. Their latest browser, which is now available in public beta, offers an array of features designed to help keep user data safe.

This includes automatic pop-up protection against unwanted advertisements and third-party trackers, as well as a dedicated player for streaming YouTube videos. Additionally, the browser incorporates automatic cookie consent handling and other privacy-focused features for a truly secure browsing experience.

Whether you’re looking for increased security or just want to take advantage of DuckDuckGo’s many useful features, this browser is an excellent choice.

What Are the New Privacy Features, and How Do They Work?

Users deserve privacy each time they go online, which is why DuckDuckGo offers robust security tools designed to keep your data safe and private. Incognito Mode on other browsers is designed to block tracking and keep your browsing private, but it does not have the same level of protection as DuckDuckGo for Mac. With the new privacy features, you can browse safely and confidently online, knowing that your data is protected and secure.

Let’s take a look at some of the key privacy features of DuckDuckGo for Mac and how they work to protect your data.

Password Management

Passwords are some of the most sensitive data that we store online, and it’s not uncommon for these to be stolen or compromised by hackers. The DuckDuckGo browser includes built-in password management tools that allow you to safely and securely store your passwords in an encrypted vault. An integration with Bitwarden allows you to securely store and manage all of your passwords, making it easy to access them when needed.

Automated Pop-Up Blocker

We’ve all experienced the annoyance of unwanted pop-ups and advertising trackers that slow down our browsing and collect data about our online activity. The DuckDuckGo browser includes an automated pop-up blocker that scans each site you visit to identify and remove advertising trackers, helping to keep your browsing experience fast and private.

Streaming YouTube Videos

While streaming videos from YouTube is convenient, it can also pose a serious privacy risk. The DuckDuckGo browser includes a dedicated YouTube component that allows you to stream videos without sharing any personal information. This not only helps keep your browsing experience private and secure but also helps to protect your data from advertisers and other third parties that track activity on YouTube.

Email Protection

With over 70 percent of people preferring email as their main method of communication, email has become an important part of our daily lives. However, this also means that your email is at risk of being compromised by hackers and other cybercriminals. The DuckDuckGo browser includes integrated email protection features that help to protect your emails from data breaches, as well as built-in encryption for added security.

Cookie Pop-Up Manager

Cookies are commonly used to track online activity and build a profile of your browsing habits. The DuckDuckGo browser includes a cookie pop-up manager that allows you to control the types of cookies that are stored on your device. With this feature, you can easily opt out of tracking cookies and protect your privacy online.

Fire Button

Your browsing history can reveal a lot about your personal preferences, interests, and even medical conditions. The Fire Button on DuckDuckGo for Mac allows you to quickly and easily clear your browsing history and delete stored cookies to help protect your online privacy.

Smarter Encryption Technology

Encryption is one of the most important tools for protecting your online data, but it can also be difficult to navigate and understand. The new privacy features in DuckDuckGo for Mac use smarter encryption technology that makes it easier to stay safe and secure online. When a user accesses an unencrypted website, DuckDuckGo automatically redirects them to an encrypted version, helping to keep data safe and secure at all times.

Why Is DuckDuckGo for Mac a Good Choice for Privacy-Minded Users?

In the digital age, privacy has never been more important. There are daily risks of having our personal data stolen by hackers, and there are always companies tracking our every move. Some things that you may think are private, like your search history, may land in the hands of third parties.

  • You may be surprised to learn that your personal data is being tracked and sold. Several companies use sophisticated algorithms to collect and analyze our information, often without our knowledge or consent.
  • Cybercriminals are constantly on the lookout for opportunities to steal our data, which they can then use to commit identity theft and other crimes. They may hack into our email accounts, social media profiles, or bank accounts to gain access to sensitive information like passwords and financial details.
  • Video streaming services are also constantly collecting data about our viewing habits. This data may be sold to advertisers, who can use it to create targeted ads that are likely to be more appealing to us.

Users who value privacy know that it’s not easy to find a browser that does everything you need. Enter DuckDuckGo. DuckDuckGo for Mac comes equipped with advanced security features to help keep your data safe from hackers and other threats. In addition, it has powerful tools that help you avoid websites that track your activity or bombard you with ads.

In a world where it feels like someone is always watching and listening, DuckDuckGo for Mac is the ultimate tool for protecting your privacy online. Whether you’re searching the web, shopping online, or streaming videos and music, this browser has everything you need to keep your data safe and your browsing history private.

How Stream (on SharePoint)’s New Video Recording Features Can Enhance Your Organizational Communications

Microsoft Stream Video Recording

How Stream (on SharePoint)’s New Video Recording Features Can Enhance Your Organizational Communications

Key Points in This Article

  • Microsoft 365’s new Stream (on SharePoint) application allows users to record and edit videos and easily integrate their content with the rest of the platform.
  • While the classic version of Stream will be retired in the next couple of years, the new Stream (on SharePoint) offers users and organizations more options to create and manage high-quality video content.

If you want to make the most of Microsoft 365, Microsoft continually rolls out new features and functions that help you do that. One of the newest developments is introducing a Recording video function in Stream (on SharePoint). Stream (on SharePoint) is a component of Microsoft 365 that integrates video search, sharing, and management features in apps across the platform. And now, with the latest update, Stream (on SharePoint)allows you to record video.

Microsoft Stream Video Recording

Video Recording in Stream (on SharePoint)

Microsoft has been diligently updating the existing Stream (on SharePoint) interface. You can see the new portal that replaces the classic interface on your desktop and mobile browsers. However, neither the Android nor the iOS version of Stream (on SharePoint) supports video recording…yet. But you can access this feature on your laptop, taking advantage of the new Stream camera feature to record webcam footage and screen content.

The new Stream (on SharePoint) doesn’t just allow you to record but also edit your recordings as well. Granted, the new editing functionality should not be mistaken for industry standards like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, or Avid Media Composer. But it will keep your audio clear enough to be heard and ensure your video is of professional quality. Additionally, you have access to filters, text annotations, backgrounds, and other simple features that can help spruce up the video content you record.

Microsoft makes recording videos easy. Simply click the New recording button in the Stream client. You’ll find yourself in a new tab in which you can record. Before you do, you can add a backdrop, image, or background blur if you wish. When you upload an image, you can drag it and place it anywhere you’d like in the background of the recording and enlarge or shrink it according to your preferences.

When you’re ready to record, click the round button between Options and Effects at the bottom of the tab. Click it again to stop recording when you wish. Your recording will automatically stop after 15 minutes – the maximum time you can record video on Stream (on SharePoint). If you like what you recorded, click Publish to preserve it in your OneDrive for Business account.

Depending on your license agreement, you may need to be prudent with what you preserve. Stream (on SharePoint) video content will fall under your storage quota for OneDrive and SharePoint. If recording video is part of your role, you may need to request more storage space from your employer. If not, you’ll want to keep these limits in mind, especially if the video content you record doesn’t directly support revenue-driving activities.

In OneDrive for Business, the default file naming convention includes the date and time you recorded your video. You’ll want to rename it quickly to avoid having a folder full of unrecognizable files. You can also add captions and transcripts to your video by accessing the Properties settings. In fact, though Stream (on SharePoint) is not the most robust option, it does boast an impressive array of editing features.

With Stream (on SharePoint), you can:

  • Suppress background noise to focus on just one speaker’s voice
  • Segment your video into Chapters allowing users to skip to the section they’re most interested in
  • Add transcripts and captions in multiple languages
  • Edited transcripts for accuracy
  • Add rich text and hyperlinks to your video descriptions
  • Create custom thumbnails

And more functions are likely on the way. In 2021, Microsoft bought a service called Clipchamp, which offers far more editing features. The company may integrate the service into Stream on SharePoint, which could allow users to create longer videos, combine video clips, and incorporate complex special effects.

The Benefits of Stream (on SharePoint)

By integrating video recording, Microsoft provides clients with enterprise-wide production capability. Further, its integration allows users to create custom workflows incorporating Microsoft’s full suite of apps without relying on standalone vendors, industry-specific software applications, and customized systems integrations.

Historically,  Microsoft’s classic Stream was fairly disconnected from the rest of Microsoft 365. Now Stream (on SharePoint) allows users a more robust UX experience, allowing them to share video content, search for it more effectively, and comment on it. Moreover, Stream (on SharePoint) allows you to categorize and store video content in OneDrive and SharePoint according to group rules aligned with your policies. For example, by folding videos into Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management (formerly known as Microsoft Information Governance), you can ensure you preserve critical video content for archival, HR, regulatory, or legal reasons.

Further, by folding video content into Stream (on SharePoint), users can naturally manage audio and video files just as easily as other common files. There’s not a single video portal destination, but using SharePoint, you can create webpages and sites where you can embed videos for user viewing. You can also share video content across the organization through OneDrive, Teams, or SharePoint for other users to access as they see fit. You can also publish videos to the Yammer Community and boost your organizational visibility.

Stream (on SharePoint) also provides you with analytics, so you know who’s watching your video content and how engaging they find it. You can see trends, traffic, unique visitors over time, what parts of a video were watched, and more. This information can help you create more engaging content and tailor how you present it to capture your audience’s attention more effectively.

With Stream (on SharePoint’s) arrival, the classic Stream will soon be retired. Microsoft estimates providing an actual retirement date in the first quarter of 2023 and gradually sunsetting the classic Stream over the following 24 months. But the company also wants to make it as easy as possible for Stream users to move to the new platform. They’ve made a migration tool available here to help users move their existing video content simultaneously or in batches from Stream to Stream (on SharePoint). Moreover, Stream live events are transitioning to Teams live events. As that process is ongoing, the company also plans to send a formal notification about the retirement timeline for Stream live events shortly.

How Your Business Can Benefit From Collaborating With a Managed Services Provider

Working With An MSP

How Your Business Can Benefit From Collaborating With a Managed Services Provider

Key Points in This Article:

  • No matter your business’s size or industry, you can benefit from working with a Managed Service Provider (MSP).
  • MSPs complement the work of your IT department, freeing up your staff to manage revenue-driving projects.
  • Collaborating with an MSP can help your business save time and money while adding invaluable expertise and practical IT solutions to pressing business problems.

Managing IT is difficult, especially for newer and smaller businesses. You usually manage everything from sales to product development to accounting when starting out. And even if you have a small team around you, you as a business owner may still find yourself working as a generalist, making sure that every t is crossed and i is dotted. And given the time, knowledge, and resources that IT requires, you may leave it on the back burner. Alternatively, you may hire a generalist IT professional and expect them to handle everything, stepping in only when an IT function directly affects a revenue-driving activity you have your hands in.

But IT is often no simpler for older and larger businesses. Often business executives are similarly disengaged from key strategic IT decisions unless there’s a revenue opportunity or a crisis. And often IT departments are not organized optimally. Everybody works as a generalist, so employees aren’t given the time, space, and resources they need to improve productivity, mitigate risk, and drive revenue. And when everyone works as a generalist, you’ll often find that tasks aren’t properly prioritized and delegated. Seventy percent of your staff may be working to fix a downtime issue that could have been avoided if someone had been trained and tasked to perform regular maintenance and updates.

You can benefit from working with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) regardless of your business or industry size. An MSP is a local business that works with yours to provide standard IT services ranging from helpdesk management to cybersecurity protection. In fact, given the importance of cybersecurity and the prevalence of cyberattacks, some MSPs solely offer cybersecurity services and are known as Managed Security Services Providers (MSSPs). Generally, the level of expertise MSSPs bring to the table few in-house IT departments can match.

Working With An MSP

Complementing Your IT Departments

When working with an MSP, the keyword is “with.” Many IT professionals are wary of MSPs as they’re afraid that their employer using one means that they may soon be out of a job. However, MSPs often work alongside an IT department, assuming the most time-consuming and routine tasks, such as managing your helpdesk, so that in-house staff has the time to engage in revenue-driving and other higher-level activities.

Moreover, because they work with multiple clients, they have a wealth of experience to draw on when it comes to solving technical problems and business problems with IT solutions. Working with an MSP, you’ll often find that a seemingly straightforward application or workflow reconfiguration can save you time and money. Or you may learn that a popular application is precisely the wrong solution for your business. These insights come from working with clients across industries and sectors.

In some cases, MSPs provide services in specialized areas that in-house staff does not have and does not have time to develop. Cybersecurity is a perfect example. Cybercriminals work 24/7 to breach corporate networks. But if you’re relying on a generalist on staff to keep up-to-date with the threat environment, investigate all incidents, and ensure your business’s cybersecurity plan is being followed across departments when 60 to 70 percent of their day is consumed with other duties, you’re in trouble.

MSPs can save businesses from having to hire multiple specialists at premium rates. And while MSPs don’t work for free, it’s less expensive to hire a first-rate MSSP than a team of the best in-house cybersecurity professionals on the market.

Expanding Your In-House Capabilities

Many MSPs employ a follow-the-sun schedule. That means they have teams working in different time zones, allowing them to provide you with 24/7 coverage and support. Working with an MSP may help you offer round-the-clock support to your business. No longer will you need to authorize overtime to your team when a network outage means that second-shift and third-shift work grinds to a halt. Instead, you can contact your MSP contact, inform them of the issue, and have it taken care of as quickly as possible.

MSPs can also help business leaders and IT professionals discover new solutions and capabilities they had not considered. In-house professionals often see new ideas through the prism of organizational constraints. They discard ideas they have or solutions they’ve read about, believing they could never work where they work for several reasons. But MSPs leverage their outsider’s perspective to identify and implement new and creative solutions to longstanding and emerging client challenges.

MSPs can also help achieve cost savings that help them implement solutions they never thought possible. Drawing on extensive supplier networks, many MSPs help businesses obtain hardware and software resources at rates below market, making solutions that once seemed prohibitively expensive now affordable and feasible.

Safeguarding Your Business

Not only can MSPs and MSSPs help you protect your business from cyberattacks. A reputable provider can also help you safeguard your business against technological, natural, and manmade disasters. A system malfunction resulting in data loss can be catastrophic, primarily if your business does not have properly functioning backups and a data recovery plan. A business without offsite or cloud backups could also fire, construction accident, or another similar calamity could also cripple your operation.

MSPs can help you develop and implement the correct business continuity and backup and disaster recovery plans for your business. When a crisis occurs, the longer you’re down, the more revenue you use. Getting your operations up seamlessly and rapidly can mean the difference between staying in business and closing up shop.

MSPs are a formidable value-add for businesses of all sizes across industries. They help in-house IT staff save the time they need to perform critical revenue-driving and cybersecurity work while expanding the scope of internal support they provide. They can help business leaders avoid bidding wars for coveted specialized talent and high prices for enterprise applications. And they can help a business scale in ways in-house staff hasn’t considered possible or haven’t yet thought of.

Ontario’s Employee Monitoring Policy: What You Need To Know

Ontario's Employee Monitoring Policy

Ontario’s Employee Monitoring Policy: What You Need To Know

Key Points

  • As of October 11, 2022, all employers in Ontario with 25 or more employees must have an electronic monitoring policy.
  • Electronic monitoring can include surveillance devices, GPS tracking, and keylogging software.
  • The electronic monitoring policy must state whether or not employees are being monitored.
  • Employers who fail to post a policy or do not provide employees with their electronic monitoring rights are subject to fines.

As of October 11, 2022, all employers in Ontario with 25 or more employees must have an electronic monitoring policy.

Electronic monitoring is nothing new, but a new law was recently passed in Ontario. As of October 11, 2022, all employers in Ontario with 25 or more employees must notify their employees in writing if they will be subject to electronic monitoring.

According to the provincial government, employers must notify employees of how they will be electronically monitored and where – including the devices, they may use to collect information. This law does not just apply to employees who work from home – it applies to anyone in Ontario who is subject to electronic monitoring, no matter where they are located.

Here’s what you need to know about electronic monitoring in the workplace and how you can prepare for it.

Ontario's Employee Monitoring Policy

What Is Electronic Monitoring?

Electronic monitoring is the use of technology to track employees’ working hours. This can include recording the time they start and end work and any breaks they take throughout the day.

Many employers are now using electronic monitoring to ensure that their employees adhere to employee attendance and overtime policies.

Transparency is critical when it comes to electronic monitoring. While the law does not prohibit employers from monitoring their employees’ activity online, it does require that they be upfront about their use of electronic monitoring tools.

What Must the Electronic Monitoring Policy Include?

The electronic monitoring policy must consist of the following:

  • A statement that employees may be subject to electronic monitoring
  • A description of the types of electronic monitoring that may be used
  • Details about how electronic monitoring data will be used
  • The date the policy was created
  • The date any modifications to the policy were made

How Should Electronic Monitoring Policies Be Communicated?

  • The written policy that outlines these details should be provided to all employees within 30 days of October 11, 2022.
  • New employees should receive this policy within 30 days of starting their job.
  • After modifications are made, employees should receive the updated copy within 30 days.
  • Employees should receive the policy in paper or digital format, allowing them to print it out.

The policy can be a standalone document, or it can be included in an employee handbook. Regardless of how the policy is communicated, employees need to understand the policy and their rights regarding electronic monitoring in the workplace.

When Should the Electronic Monitoring Policy Be Instituted?

As mentioned, the electronic monitoring policy must be provided to employees within 30 days of October 11, 2022. Therefore, employers must provide employees with a written copy of the policy by November 10, 2022.

Starting in 2023, any employer with 25 or more employees at the beginning of each year must have an electronic monitoring policy by March 1 of that same year.

Which Employees Should Be Counted When Measuring the 25-Employee Threshold?

When employers are determining whether they need to communicate an electronic monitoring policy to employees, they must consider all employees working at a single location or facility, including the following:

  • Employees who are working from home
  • Probationary employees
  • Employees on leave or extended absences
  • Some trainees
  • Contract workers
  • Employees who are currently laid off and could return to the workplace

Employees partnering with temporary help agencies are employees of the agency. Therefore, temporary help agencies must legally communicate an electronic monitoring policy to their employees. This means employers who hire workers from temporary help agencies do not need to include these workers in the 25-employee threshold calculation.

How Do You Count Employees if There Are Multiple Locations?

If an employer has multiple locations, the total number of employees should be determined by adding all the employees working at a single location or facility.

For example, if an employer has three offices, each with 10 employees, the total number of employees for this particular employer would be 30. As long as this employer meets the 25-employee threshold, they must communicate the electronic monitoring policy to employees.

Overall, employers in Ontario must understand and follow the requirements around electronic monitoring in the workplace. By communicating an electronic monitoring policy to employees and ensuring they understand their rights, employers can help ensure a positive and productive work environment.​

What Happens if an Employer Fails to Comply With the Requirements?

If an employer fails to communicate the electronic monitoring policy, they may be subject to fines and other legal penalties. The fine for the first contravention is $250, multiplied by the total number of employees affected by your failure to comply.

To avoid these fines and other legal issues, it is essential for employers to stay up-to-date on all workplace guidelines and requirements. With clear communication, transparency, and accountability, employers can create a positive work environment for employees and help their businesses run smoothly.​

Wrapping Up

The digital age has changed the way we do things, both at work and at home. For example, more workplaces are turning to electronic tracking of their employees’ activities. Electronic monitoring of employees can benefit both the employer and employee, but only if both parties are aware of their rights and obligations.

Electronic monitoring can serve several purposes, including ensuring that employees complete their work on time, tracking productivity levels, and improving safety in the workplace. However, there are also some important legal considerations to be aware of when it comes to electronic monitoring. While employees will be limited on complaints, employers may want to seek legal counsel if they are unsure whether the electronic monitoring policy could create any entitlements outside of the Ontario Employment Standards Act.

As the days and weeks go by, electronic monitoring will continue to play an important role in the workplace, so it is essential for employers and employees alike to stay informed and comply with all workplace guidelines and requirements.​

New York State Provides Great Example on How to Improve Organizational Cybersecurity

New York State Cybersecurity

New York State Provides Great Example of How to Improve Organizational Cybersecurity

Key Points

  • The state of New York has introduced multiple pieces of legislation to help bolster private-sector cybersecurity.
  • It is recommended that all businesses consistently monitor for threats, educate their workforce on them, enforce strict policies regarding data transfer, bring your own device (BYOD), VPN usage, and other hallmarks of good cybersecurity.
  • Good cyber hygiene requires energy, effort, and buy-in from all members of your organization – but it’s worth it, as the impact of faulty cybersecurity practices can be catastrophic.

As the need for a secure cybersecurity posture continues to grow in importance for businesses everywhere, the state of New York has become a national leader in cybersecurity. That’s a good thing for New York businesses, as it can inspire confidence in them to operate successfully and securely. It also means those same businesses must comply with existing state regulations while maintaining a high standard for cyber hygiene within their organization. This enhances your organization’s security but isn’t necessarily easy to implement. With a little forethought and guidance, however, businesses can better understand what’s needed to make secure and informed decisions about their organization’s cybersecurity.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the groundwork New York state has laid regarding cybersecurity and what your New York business should focus on to ensure compliance and optimize data security.

New York State Cybersecurity

New York Has Taken Multiple Measures to Show How Seriously It Takes Cybersecurity

The state holds one of the biggest cities in the world – one of the most influential municipalities for businesses. Because of this, it should be no surprise that the Empire State takes cybersecurity seriously. Its legislators have come up with multiple efforts to improve cybersecurity at the organizational level.

Several years ago, the New York State Department of Financial Services approved a first-in-the-nation cybersecurity regulation for banks, insurance companies, and other financial services institutions. The Department’s regulation requires organizations to adopt security policies and procedures to protect their information systems and nonpublic information.

Other cyber policy measures enacted statewide reach beyond the financial services sector. In 2018, the New York State Office of Information Technology Services unveiled its New York State Cyber Security Strategy & Policy Framework, which guides the implementation of cybersecurity best practices throughout all agencies within the Executive Branch of New York State.

The measure calls for agencies to do the following:

  • Develop risk assessment frameworks
  • Identify and assess the risks to their organization’s information systems
  • Implement controls designed to ensure adherence to organizational policies and procedures
  • Train employees on cybersecurity best practices
  • Implement BYOD policies
  • Use VPNs when connecting remotely
  • Integrate multifactor authentication for sensitive applications and systems
  • Educate staff members on phishing scams and other social engineering techniques
  • Create incident response plans to limit damage in case of a breach

To comply with this regulation, agencies should develop a written cybersecurity policy that includes the following:

  • Purpose and scope statements
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Management commitment
  • Awareness training requirements (e.g., policies/procedures, roles/responsibilities)

There’s a good reason the state of New York believes in these recommendations – they don’t eliminate cybersecurity risks, but they can help you mitigate them. Of course, enacting these measures is easier said than done. Many teams struggle with cybersecurity even though everyone should view it as an organizational imperative. While this was aimed at the Executive Branch, it’s good advice for private sector organizations.

What Can Your New York Business Do to Practice Good Cyber Hygiene?

The first step New York state recommends is for you to develop your cybersecurity plan. Implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity plan is one of the most innovative things an organization can do to secure itself from malicious actors. Cybersecurity demands that your organization take it seriously, from senior leadership to employees in all departments and roles. A comprehensive plan for which all members of your staff are accountable builds a solid data security foundation.

Cybersecurity also requires vigilance. It requires an ongoing commitment by organizations to keep up with the rapidly changing technology landscape through continuous training, software updates, hardware upgrades, and more. Ensuring your IT department is responsible for implementing these – but that all members of your organization share in that responsibility to ensure the updates are happening – is paramount.

To successfully maintain proper cybersecurity, you need to clearly understand the threats that exist today and may arise in the future. You also need to understand what data is valuable for your organization, who can access it, where it is stored, and how often does it change?

Another essential component of a comprehensive cybersecurity plan is conducting regular assessments. This enables you to identify vulnerabilities in your systems and implement solutions before hackers exploit them. It also helps reduce the risk of data breaches, which can be costly for an organization financially and reputationally.

Cybersecurity is not a one-time undertaking but rather something that needs constant attention and updating as you discover new threats or witness existing ones as they evolve. Don’t view your cybersecurity plan or efforts as a “set it and forget it” feature of your business. Your cybersecurity plan should be a living document that adapts as needed.

Organizational Flexibility and Awareness are the Hallmarks of a Solid Cyber Posture

The truth is that the protective steps suggested by the state of New York are valid in any state. Cybersecurity should be one of your top concerns for a New York business or a business residing anywhere in the world.

The risks associated with cyber threats continue to grow as the technology landscape evolves rapidly, making it increasingly important for organizations to ensure they are implementing effective measures to protect their business operations and confidentially. Organizations need to continuously train employees on best practices related to cybersecurity while investing in software updates, hardware upgrades, firewalls, and other protective measures and hiring staff experienced with protecting against various types of threats (e.g., phishing).

The world is changing, and so are the threats that organizations face. The cybersecurity space is constantly evolving, so your organization needs to be vigilant about keeping up with the latest trends and developments. Keep cybersecurity at the top of mind for everyone throughout the organization to limit vulnerabilities and keep your systems more secure. Contact us today for more on how we can help you do this.

How Granting Local Admin Privileges Could Cost You Your Business

Local Admin

How Granting Local Admin Privileges Could Cost You Your Business

Key Points in This Article

  • Historically, many overburdened IT departments have sought to save time and work by granting multiple users across their business or organization local administrative privileges.
  • Doing so substantially increases the risk that their network security may be compromised.
  • The costs of a data breach are far higher than the productivity savings that may be achieved by granting such privileges.

These days, organizational cybersecurity should be top-of-mind for any cybersecurity professional. Whether cybersecurity is in your title or you’re a generalist handling everything from network maintenance to changing printer ink cartridges, it’s always critical that you keep an eye out for how our organization’s operations may inadvertently be creating vulnerabilities third parties can exploit.

When cybersecurity professionals conduct risk assessments, they often find vulnerabilities stemming from organizational practices that are pretty common across industries. One such practice is granting local administrative rights to individual users, most often in small businesses, organizations, and those with understaffed IT departments.

Local Admin

The Dangers of Granting Local Admin Privileges

If you’ve worked for an understaffed IT department, you’ve likely spent much of your day handling mundane helpdesk requests. None of them take that much time, but there are a lot of them, and they don’t stop. You cannot devote adequate – sometimes any – time to the IT aspects of the organization’s revenue-diving activities or essential network maintenance and security because there are so many requests.

In this scenario, perhaps you, like many IT administrators, realized many of these requests could be handled by individual users simply by giving them administrative privileges. You may have saved some time on routine tasks, like adding applications, users, and hardware. And you may have found yourself breathing a sigh of relief given that you’ve now reduced the number of requests across your desk.

But doing so is a mistake. When you provide local admin rights to users across your organization, you’ve inadvertently made it more vulnerable to intrusion. And the extra work you’ll perform to address a data breach compared to the few minutes you may save installing a printer here, or there is certainly not worth it.

Users frequently try to install software programs they find online. When they do and lack local admin privileges, they’re prompted to ask permission to download the software in question. This prompt allows IT administrators to vet the software and ensure it does not present a threat. But when users have local admin privileges, they have the freedom to download applications as they see fit. And they may even disable network security measures that vet new applications for the presence of malware and viruses to expedite installation.

In doing so, they’ve exposed your organization’s network to risk. Malware and viruses lurk in seemingly harmless downloads found on official-looking websites. Not only can they compromise your user’s account and device. If downloaded on an account with local admin privileges, they can compromise your entire network’s security. Malware on such an account could disable your organization’s antivirus protections, turn off your firewall, and hijack your data on multiple devices.

Local admin privileges allow users to override the Group Policy you’ve established. If a hacker gains control of an account with these privileges, they could prevent your Group Policy from being accessed or create their own. In either case, your security protocols would be compromised, giving a criminal the ability to access and steal your data, encrypt your system and hold it for ransom, and conduct other activities that could be financially catastrophic for your company.

Many cybercriminals specifically seek administrative credentials to penetrate corporate networks. Fundamentally, the smaller the number of accounts with administrative credentials, the less risk one of these accounts will be compromised. In practice, users who have been granted these credentials outside of the IT department, by and large, have had minimal, if any, cybersecurity awareness training or have not followed best practices to safeguard their accounts. Accordingly, cybercriminals have found their way into these accounts easily and have been able to cause considerable damage.

Why Local Admin Privileges Must Be Restricted

Even if your IT department remains small and understaffed, granting users across your organization local admin privileges is no longer justifiable. Any time you save will be more than offset by the damage that can be caused in the event of a breach.

As an IT professional, you will face countless hours over the following days, weeks, and months scrambling to address the threat, regain control of compromised systems, and ensure your employer can remain operational. Your business might face reputational damage and legal consequences if client data is compromised. And depending on your industry, you may face regulatory action if the breach occurred because you failed to meet legally mandated cybersecurity standards.

The cumulative financial consequences of a breach can be catastrophic. Some research asserts that as many as 75 percent of small and medium-sized businesses go under after a ransomware attack. And no industry or sector of the economy is safe. In May 2022, Lincoln University permanently closed its doors after a devastating ransomware attack.

Even if you don’t suffer a breach in the near term, granting users local admin privileges can create more work and headaches for IT. You may find that departments are now downloading and using software applications you’re not equipped to support. Or you may find that in attempting to manage relatively simple tasks themselves, they’ve inadvertently created more complicated problems for themselves – and other users. You may not be saving yourself nearly as much time as you think.

It’s also not uncommon for senior leaders to believe that they should be granted local admin privileges by virtue of their position. And when they have them, they may accidentally cause problems for themselves or other users that you must address. Or you may find them using their privileges to undermine organizational cybersecurity measures out of a misguided attempt to increase productivity or out of hubris.

The cybersecurity of your organization must supersede all of these considerations. To preserve it, you must tightly restrict administrative privileges across your organization and actively monitor the accounts that possess them. Moreover, you must educate all users about cybersecurity continuously and thoroughly. Doing so will help you keep your organization safe and help them understand their loss of these privileges is not about a lack of trust. In fact, when your co-workers make the connection between the proliferation of accounts with local admin privileges, data breaches, and their own jobs, they’re likely to accept the removal of these privileges without protest.

Communication Security in the Digital Age

Communication Security

Communication Security in the Digital Age

Key Points:

  • Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common, so protecting your business is essential.
  • Employees must be trained on good communication security practices to avoid falling victim to cyberattacks.
  • Communication security can be boosted by encrypting data, utilizing a secure network connection, and keeping devices up-to-date.

In today’s business world, data breaches and cyber attacks are becoming more and more common. As a result, it’s more important than ever to ensure that your communication channels are secure. What does that mean, exactly? Is it worth the effort? Let’s take a closer look.

Communication Security

What Is Communication Security?

Communication security, also known as ComSec, refers to the measures taken to protect electronic communications from being intercepted and read by unauthorized users. ComSec includes hardware and software solutions, such as firewalls, encryption, and access control measures.

The Importance of Communication Security

When it comes to communication security, it’s essential to understand that there are a variety of ways in which your communications can be intercepted and read by others. Electronic interception of communications is relatively standard. For example, someone else on the network can intercept and read your communications if you’re using a public Wi-Fi network. This is why it’s essential to use a private, secure network whenever possible.

Data breaches and cyberattacks have become common occurrences in today’s digital world. As our lives move increasingly online, we leave behind a digital footprint with every mouse click. This digital footprint is a treasure trove of information for cybercriminals, who can use it to commit identity theft, financial fraud, and other crimes. While there is no foolproof way to prevent a data breach or cyberattack, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.

How to Boost Communication Security in Your Business

Business communications have come a long way, from emails to instant messaging and video conferencing. As our methods of communication evolve, so do how cybercriminals can exploit them. While you may think your communication methods are secure, there’s always room for improvement when it comes to security.

There are several steps you can take to boost your communication security. Here are a few of the most important:

Utilize a Secure Network Connection

One key way to boost your communication security is to make sure you are always using a secure network connection. This means avoiding public Wi-Fi hotspots and ensuring your home or office network is password-protected. If you must use public Wi-Fi, be sure to only connect to encrypted websites (look for https:// in the URL) and avoid entering sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers.

Keep Your Devices Updated

It’s also essential to ensure that all your communication devices are up-to-date with the latest security patches. This includes ensuring that your computer’s operating system and installed applications are up-to-date. Many devices will update automatically, but it’s always a good idea to double-check and make sure everything is updated manually.

Use Encryption Software

One of the best ways to boost communication security is to encrypt all of your data. This means that if anyone intercepts your communication, they would not be able to read it without the proper decryption key.

Check Links Before Clicking

One of the most common ways hackers gain access to our devices and data is through phishing emails. These emails appear to be from a legitimate source but contain links that lead to malicious websites. Before clicking on any links, hover over them with your mouse to see where they are taking you. If the URL looks suspicious, do not click on it.

Inspect Email Addresses

Another way to spot phishing emails is to look closely at the sender’s email address. Frequently, phishing emails will come from addresses very similar to legitimate addresses but with a few small changes. For example, a phishing email from Amazon might come from an address like “amaxon.com” or “a-mazon.com.” Always inspect email addresses carefully before opening any attachments or clicking any links.

Implement Access Control Measures

Access control measures help to ensure that only authorized users can access your communications. For example, you might require employees to use two-factor authentication when logging into company email accounts. This means that they would also need to enter a code sent to their mobile device in addition to a password. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to access your data.

Use a Virtual Private Network

A virtual private network (VPN) is a great way to boost your communication security. VPNs encrypt all your traffic, making it much more difficult for anyone to intercept and read your data.

Train Your Employees on Good Security Practices

Finally, one of the most important things you can do is train your employees on good security practices. Ensure they know how to spot phishing emails, create strong passwords, and not fall victim to other common security threats. The better educated your employees are about communication security, the less likely it is that your business will be compromised by a cyberattack.

Benefits of Good Communication Security Practices

By following the tips above, you can help to ensure that your communication is secure. This is important for both individuals and businesses. Businesses that implement good communication security practices can enjoy many benefits, including:

  • Reducing the likelihood of data breaches
  • Protecting sensitive information
  • Preventing loss of customer trust
  • Ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations
  • Saving money on costly security breaches

Businesses and individuals who take steps to secure their communications can also enjoy peace of mind knowing that their data is safe from prying eyes. Communication security is more important than ever in today’s increasingly connected world.

Final Thoughts

Communication security should be a top priority for any business or organization in today’s digital age. By taking steps like encrypting data, utilizing a secure network connection, keeping devices up-to-date, and training employees on good security practices, you can help ensure that your business is protected from cyberattacks. As the world becomes more connected, it’s important to remember that communication security is everyone’s responsibility.

6 Common IT Problems

IT Problems

6 Common IT Problems and Their Impact on Businesses

Key Points:

  • The ever-changing landscape of technology leads to new IT problems every day.
  • Businesses must be proactive to stay ahead of the curve regarding IT problems.
  • Businesses can avoid major disruptions by being aware of the common issues and implementing the appropriate solutions.

IT Problems

Information Technology (IT) is a crucial part of any modern business. It helps organizations become more efficient and connect with customers, employees, and partners. However, IT can also be a source of frustration, as it is often complex and prone to problems. In any business, specific IT problems are bound to occur no matter how well-prepared you are. Whether a crashed server or an email outage, these issues can cause serious disruptions in your workflow. Today, we’ll discuss some of the most common IT problems all companies face and provide tips on addressing them.

1. Lack of IT Security

One of the most common IT problems is a lack of security. With so many cyber threats out there, it’s essential to have strong security measures in place to protect your data and systems. Unfortunately, many companies don’t invest enough in security, leaving themselves vulnerable to attacks.

Solution: Make sure you have a robust security system, including firewalls, anti-virus software, and intrusion detection. Train your employees on best security practices, and ensure they understand the importance of keeping your systems safe.

2. Downtime

Another common IT problem is downtime. This is when your systems or website is down for maintenance or due to an issue. Downtime can be costly for businesses, leading to lost productivity and revenue.

Solution: Have a plan in place for dealing with downtime. This should include having backup systems in place so that you can continue to work if your primary system goes down. Make sure your employees know what to do during downtime and have a way to stay in touch with customers or clients if your website is down.

3. Data Loss

Data loss is another common IT problem. This can happen due to hardware failure, human error, or malicious attacks. Data loss can devastate businesses, leading to lost information, customers, and revenue.

Solution: Invest in data backup and recovery solutions. These will help you protect your data and quickly recover it if lost. Make sure your employees understand the importance of backing up data and have a process in place for doing so.

4. Outdated Hardware and Software

Another common IT problem is outdated hardware and software. As technology evolves, it’s essential to keep your systems up-to-date. Otherwise, you’ll be at a competitive disadvantage, and your systems may become vulnerable to security threats.

Solution: Regularly update your hardware and software. This includes both your operating system and the applications you use. Stay up-to-date on the latest security threats, and make sure your systems are protected against them.

5. Slow System Performance

Slow system performance is another common IT issue. This can be caused by many factors, including outdated hardware, insufficient resources, or incorrect configurations. Slow performance can lead to lost productivity and frustration for users.

Solution: Invest in new hardware or upgrade your existing hardware as needed. Make sure your systems have enough resources, such as memory and storage, to meet the demands of your users. Also, check your configurations and make sure they are optimized for performance.

6. IT Support Issues

Another common issue that businesses face is IT support. Many companies don’t have enough staff to support their IT systems or staff that is not properly trained. This can lead to issues when things go wrong or when users need help.

Solution: Make sure you have enough staff to support your IT systems and that they are properly trained. Also, consider using a managed services provider (MSP) to help with your IT support needs. MSPs can provide expert support when needed, often more cost-effective than hiring your own staff.

What Impact Do These IT Problems Have on Businesses?

Every business relies on information technology (IT), whether communicating with customers or employees, processing transactions, or managing inventory. When IT systems go down at any time, it can cause serious disruptions to business operations. The impact of IT problems typically falls into one of three categories:

  1. Financial Impact
  2. Productivity Impact
  3. Reputational Impact

Let’s take a closer look at each of these categories:

1. Financial Impact

The financial impact of IT problems can be significant. Even a relatively minor issue can cost a business thousands of dollars in lost productivity, data loss, and revenue. In some cases, IT problems can even lead to business failure.

2. Productivity Impact

IT problems can have a serious impact on productivity. Even a minor issue can result in lost productivity, as employees cannot work effectively. Sometimes, IT problems can even lead to shutdowns, as businesses cannot operate without IT systems.

3. Reputational Impact

IT problems can also damage a business’s reputation. If a business experiences a major IT outage, customers may lose faith in the company and take their business elsewhere. In some cases, media coverage of IT problems can damage a business’s reputation.

IT problems don’t just impact one area of a business. They can have a ripple effect that impacts many different areas. This is why it’s crucial to have a plan to deal with IT problems.

Final Thoughts

No business is immune to the potential downside of technology. IT problems can have a significant financial, productivity, and reputational impact on businesses of all sizes. The best way to avoid these problems is to invest in a reliable IT infrastructure and to have a comprehensive plan for dealing with IT issues. By being prepared, businesses can minimize the impact of IT problems and keep their operations running smoothly.