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Azure Stack has commanded plenty of loyal followers since its release, and it’s easy to see why. The platform provides many of the same great benefits users found in Microsoft’s Azure. Chief among them is the impact on multi-cloud environments. Building and deploying applications have become easier than ever before, and users are now able to enjoy the same familiar, tried-and-true tools to streamline their web operations. These factors plus a wide variety of others combine to create a solid case for Azure Stack.

Before you decide if a service like Azure Stack is right for your company’s IT structure, it’s important to know what benefits you’re dealing with. Knowing the basics of Azure Stack and its usage capabilities can help you determine whether it makes sense for your unique business needs.

What is Azure Stack?

It’s an extension of Microsoft’s Azure, and helps companies combine cloud computing with on-premises environments. Consistency is key with this type of platform, as it allows companies to deliver Azure’s unique services from their own unique datacenter for consistent hybrid cloud deployments.

What Are Some Benefits of Azure Stack?

There are many benefits associated with Azure Stack. For instance, users can apply Azure web and mobile services, architectures, and containers to extend legacy applications through the use of consistent processes in the cloud and on-prem. They can also build applications with a consistent set of tools and services, then deploy those applications to the appropriate location by writing code just once.

It allows companies the flexibility to seamlessly transition workloads between private and public environments, bringing a whole new world of potential for those who have long hoped for a turnkey solution to deploying applications. While deploying new cloud applications once took hours or even days, with Azure Stack, users can deploy them in mere minutes with the use of prebuilt solutions from Azure’s Marketplace. Add-on products, such as Commvault Hyperscale, are also integrated easily with Azure Stack.

One other perk users find in Azure Stack is its payment structure. Users pay only for the services they actually use, which can also be found in Azure.

How Can Azure Stack Be Useful For Federal Agencies And Financial Service Providers?

While Azure Stack is beneficial to companies across diverse industries, its capabilities are particularly helpful in the federal agency and financial services realms. Nearly all industries must comply with some sort of financial regulations, required either by internal policies or by customers. Security-wise Azure Stack satisfies requirements that dictate sensitive data must be stored in one tightly managed location.

Among the many benefits of Azure Stack for federal agencies is the ability to provide edge and disconnected computing for remote users, such as military members in a combat zone or other areas where access to the cloud may be difficult to come by. The ability to process big data at the edge and have this data sent to one central location is highly useful to federal agencies.

Additionally, Azure Stack allows large agencies to build out private clouds to serve their internal teams, which provides specialized services both cost-effectively and securely. Azure Stack allows federal customers to remain compliant with governing regulations that call for the security of privileged and classified information, which may later be moved to a public cloud once those security requirements expire.

Adequate security is vital in the financial world, and today’s top financial organizations simply can’t afford a breach. Large financial service providers have the opportunity to host Azure Stack-as-a-service to other business units, resulting in a private cloud that becomes a consumable service. With this, business units are able to avoid the security issues that come from operating outside of a private cloud. Financial service providers are also able to now scale quickly with Azure Stack, given their ability to transition to the public cloud during times of heavy traffic.

What Are Some Azure Stack Storage Options?

When it comes to persistent storage while using Azure, developers are faced with three basic options:

1. Tables
2. Blobs
3. SQL Databases

The latter is a database-as-a-service that offers a variety of the same features found in SQL servers, but without the overhead of one key figure: database administration.

Tables have the capabilities to support upwards of 200TB of basic structured data. This may be a good option for those who prefer a NoSQL database, similar to that of MongoDB, but without the need to manage a data store service.

There is also the option of Blobs, short for binary large objects, which are unstructured storage objects built for the storage of binary data. It can be accessed through API commands or REST, and has about the same storage capacity as Tables.

Wrap Up

All in all, Azure Stack has proven well worth its weight in terms of convenience for developers. If its current state is any indication, there should be plenty of exciting new features to look forward to in the years to come.

Which Tablet Is Best For You: iPad Or Microsoft Surface Go?

Microsoft recently announced a new budget-friendly tablet called the Surface Go with a lower price than previous tablets. This new Surface Go 2-in-1 tablet is Microsoft’s attempt to make it more affordable and accessible for consumers. It doesn’t have the muscle of the Core i7-powered Surface Pro, but it’s half the price. To compete, Apple took a similar approach when it lowered the price of its baseline iPad to $329 ($299 for educators). It’s not as powerful as the iPad Pro, but it’s much less expensive for everyday customers.

Let’s break down what each of these tablets, the Microsoft Surface Go, and the iPad, offer you and find out what is the best tablet for you.

Software

How are they similar?

Both iPad and Microsoft Surface Go are 10-inch tablets with optional keyboards and stylus pens. They also allow you to use a bunch of apps for both work and entertainment similar to a smartphone. Aside from those similarities, Apple and Microsoft obviously are different in just about every aspect of the software hemisphere.

How are they different?

The Surface Go comes with Windows 10 S. This is the scaled-down version of Windows 10 created specifically for tablets. It is similar to Windows 10 Home, but can only use apps from the Microsoft’s Windows Store. Consumers are able, however, to upgrade to Windows 10 Home for free and use their Surface Go like a full Windows system.

The downside of this is that you can’t then revert back to Windows 10 S later. The upgrade, in the long run, seems worth it, because the full Windows experience offers more flexibility than a tablet-only Windows product. While there’s plenty of software available at the Microsoft app store, it pales in comparison to the amount you’ll find from other sources of Windows software, or the Android or iOS app stores.

The iPad uses Apple’s iOS, the same OS used by the iPhone. The iOS App Store features millions of apps of every kind, and you can enjoy the same user experience you do on the iPhone but in a larger version. The downside is that there’s no way to get access to macOS or OS X Mac software that is in the MacBook Pro on the iPad.

Display

How are they similar?

Both tablets have 10-inch screens, and they both are capable of stylus use.

How are they different?

Apple has much better resolution, but Microsoft has an edge in display size. The Surface Go has an 1800×1200 10.6-inch PixelSense display custom-built for the tablet. The iPad’s 9.7-inch Retina display has a narrower aspect ratio and a higher resolution, 2048×1536 pixels. In simpler terms, the iPad’s screen is slightly smaller than the Microsoft Surface Go, but it is crisper, featuring a pixel density of 264ppi as opposed to the Surface Go’s 217ppi.

Processor

Microsoft Surface Go

The Surface Go uses the Pentium Gold 4415Y CPU, which is a significant move down from a Core series chip. Not enough independent tests have been performed to see how exactly it will compare to the other Surface Pro tablets at this time.

iPad

The iPad uses Apple’s A10 Fusion chip, the same one that the iPhone 7 used. It’s a generation behind the A11 Bionic chip that the iPhone 8 and iPhone X uses, but it still does an extraordinary job inside a tablet.

Storage/RAM

The baseline Surface Go boasts 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard flash storage, twice as much as the iPad. The baseline $329 iPad features 2GB RAM, 32GB storage. Another edge the Surface Go has in this area is the ability to upgrade. The Surface Go has a microSD card slot, so you can expand storage, unlike the iPad.

Size

The iPad is marginally slimmer and lighter than the Surface Go. Apple’s 9.4-by-6.6-inch tablet is just 0.29 inches thick and weighs 1.05 pounds. The Surface Go is a tad bit thicker (0.33 inches), a little larger in footprint (9.6 by 7 inches) and weighs a tiny bit more (1.15 pounds).

iPad 2018 and Surface Go-Specs Side by Side:

iPad 2018                                                                    Surface Go:

A10 Fusion chip (2.34GHz quad-core) with 64‑bit architecture; embedded M10 coprocessor	1.6GHz Intel Pentium 4415Y processor (7th-gen Kaby Lake)
2GB RAM	4GB or 8GB RAM
32GB or 128GB storage	64GB, 128GB or 256GB storage
9.7in LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology; 2048×1536 at 264ppi; 4:3 aspect ratio; supports Apple Pencil	Intel HD 615 integrated graphics 10in IPS screen; 1200×1800 at 217ppi; 3:2 aspect ratio; supports Surface Pen stylus
8Mp rear-facing camera; f/2.4 aperture; Live Photos; Panorama (up to 43Mp); 1080p HD video recording; slo-mo (120fps)	8Mp rear-facing camera
1.2Mp front-facing camera; f/2.2 aperture; Live Photos; Retina Flash; 720p HD video recording	5Mp front-facing camera
802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.2; Lightning port; headphone jack	802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi; LTE later in 2018; 1 x USB 3.0 Type C; 1 x Surface Connector; microSD; headphone jack
32.4Wh rechargeable lithium-polymer battery; estimated battery life 10 hours (Wi‑Fi), 9 hours (mobile data)	27Wh rechargeable battery; estimated battery life 9 hours
iOS 11	Windows 10 Home in S Mode
240mm x 169.5mm x 7.5mm; 469g/478g (Wi-Fi/cellular)	245mm x 175mm x 8.3mm; 522g

The Key Benefits and Potential Issues Involving Outsourced Healthcare IT That You Need to Know

Outsourcing refers to finding a third-party to deliver certain services. In the healthcare industry, outsourcing IT functions has been an acceptable alternative to an in-house IT staff for many years. As more and more healthcare providers are turning to managed IT services to meet their technology requirements, it is important to have a good understanding of the benefits and potential issues involved with outsourcing IT.

Time

One of the established benefits of outsourcing healthcare IT functions is that it can significantly reduce the time it takes to implement new technology and industry best practices. IT providers are pressured to stay on top of the latest developments in order to remain competitive with others.

There is another aspect to the pros when it comes to time: 24/7 operation. Many healthcare employees who must interact with IT systems to do their job do not always follow the traditional 9-to-5 work schedule. Outsourcing makes it possible to offer around-the-clock IT staffing and support to respond to user needs anytime they appear. It also makes 24/7 management of IT feasible. In addition, having an outsourced IT staff can have a positive impact by reducing system downtime. You’ll have someone available to work on the system whenever it fails (e.g., midnight on a holiday).

Qualified IT Staff

Smaller healthcare providers and those in more rural geographic areas can’t always compete for the best talent in the IT field. It can sometimes be difficult to recruit qualified IT staff in these situations, but outsourcing IT functions free healthcare providers from this constraint. They can make use of the best talent regardless of geographic location and are able to obtain access to that talent at a lower price.

Focus Onsite Talent

In addition, it makes it possible to have an onsite team that focuses on items that are more critical to the company’s mission, such as improving patient satisfaction. The more boring, repetitive aspects of IT can be outsourced, allowing a healthcare establishment to better optimize their use of talent they have successfully recruited.

Flexibility and Scalability

Another benefit of outsourcing IT is that it’s much easier to scale up IT resources as needed, as well as respond to temporary fluctuations. Many vendors offer burst capacity options that are only paid for when they are needed. You can scale down during low-peak seasons for your business, but the ability to scale up is always there. That’s real flexibility.

Compliance

Compliance is a major issue in healthcare. There are two major compliance-related pros to using a managed IT provider: more up-to-date knowledge of changing compliance landscape and the ability to conduct external audits without as much of a vested interest in the results.

However, there can be drawbacks related to compliance, too. If you outsource to someone outside of your region, they may not be familiar with the compliance regulations that need to be implemented. When the vendor is outside of your geographical boundaries, there can be potential complications with exporting data as well.

Costs

When it comes to costs, there is an abundance of benefits to hiring a healthcare IT managed service provider, including the following:

• Cheaper than having an on-site IT staff
• Reduces the capital investment required for on-site equipment
• Can help reduce costs that are passed on to patients
• Reduces the need for full-time IT employees

In addition, for smaller clinics there may not be funding for the infrastructure and security needed to support an on-site IT staff, making outsourcing an ideal solution.

Managing and Monitoring the Vendor

Without a reliable managed IT provider in the healthcare industry, especially in today’s climate of cybersecurity dangers, outsourcing IT functions could prove disastrous. However, it is still important to monitor the vendor. There is a critical need for someone to be the main resource who is responsible for interacting with each vendor. Failure to do so could have consequences.

Morale

If a healthcare group has an existing IT department, there is a strong probability that any on-site IT employees, whether officially or unofficially part of an IT department, may feel threatened by outsourcing. To minimize this, management needs to be honest and transparent about what is being outsourced and what is not.

Unrealistic Expectations

There is often a gap between what the healthcare business is expecting and what the managed IT professional actually provides. In fact, one of the biggest issues in healthcare IT is unrealistic expectations on behalf of the healthcare leaders. This can result from a poorly defined scope of work that invariably leads to major issues later on. That is why it’s vital that the key performance indicators are established early. Communication is so important when successfully working with any vendor. In addition, a failure to honestly communicate existing problems when evaluating potential vendors will only lead to more unrealistic expectations.

Conclusion

Outsourcing healthcare IT can provide numerous benefits, including faster setup, 24/7 IT operations management, state-of-the-art implementation, and significant cost reduction. However, there are risks to existing IT staff morale, the danger of unrealistic expectations, and potential issues with compliance issues. Do your research and make sure that the company you’re considering understands HIPAA and other regulations now required in the healthcare industry. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the services your managed healthcare IT provider will deliver.

Is It Safe For Me To Use The Airport’s Public Wi-Fi When I Travel?

Most airports around the U.S. and abroad provide free Wi-Fi service to travelers stranded in their terminals, waiting for their flights. While this service may appear to be generous, a recent study by Coronet, a cybersecurity company, suggests you might want to think twice before connecting to the airport’s Wi-Fi.

According to Coronet’s findings, most airport public networks are unencrypted, insecure, or improperly configured. Hackers, therefore, have easy access to devices connected to the networks and they can potentially steal your personal data.

What Can Hackers Take?

Most public connections are either unsecured or require shared passwords. Hackers want to get between you and the websites you visit in order to look at your information. They do this with little effort on public Wi-Fi networks.

A weak network makes it easy for a hacker to gain access credentials to cloud apps, such as Microsoft Office 365, G-Suite, Dropbox, and iCloud. They can send malware to your device and the cloud, as well as breach your various forms of infrastructures. Although it’s not horribly difficult to cancel and replace credit cards and void unauthorized transactions, once passwords and business digital frames are exploited, it’s incredibly challenging to recuperate complete control over them.

How Were These Findings Conducted?

Coronet revealed which airports have the most vulnerable networks. They came up with a ranking system of airports by their threat level. Coronet amassed data from more than 250,000 consumer and corporate endpoints over a 5-month period that went through the 45 busiest US airports. They gave each of the airports a threat index score after assessing the vulnerability of the traveler’s devices who used the airport’s network.

“Far too many U.S. airports have sacrificed the security of their Wi-Fi networks for consumer convenience. As a result, business travelers, in particular, put not just their devices, but their company’s entire digital infrastructure at risk every time they connect to Wi-Fi that is unencrypted, unsecured, or improperly configured. Until such time when airports take responsibility and improve their cybersecurity posture, the accountability is on each individual flyer to be aware of the risks and take the appropriate steps to minimize the danger.” – Dror Liwer, Coronet’s founder and CISO

Top 10 Most Cyber Vulnerable Airports:

1. Boston Logan International Airport
2. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
3. Charlotte Douglas International Airport
4. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
5. Dallas Love Field
6. Newark Liberty International Airport
7. Southwest Florida International Airport
8. William P. Houston Hobby Airport
9. John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport
10. San Diego International Airport

How Did The Hackers Specifically Get Traveler’s Information?

In its report, Coronet revealed some specific ways in which hackers were able to infiltrate the airport’s network and steal people’s information. In the worst rated airport, the data revealed that hackers in San Diego set up an “Evil Twin” hotspot with the name “#SANfreewifi” at the airport to trick users into connecting to it. This allowed them to have access to all of the files that the victims downloaded or uploaded while they were connected. Similarly, at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport, which was rated third weakest, hackers created a network named “SouthwestWiFi.”

Top 10 least vulnerable airports:

1. Chicago-Midway International Airport
2. Raleigh Durham International Airport
3. Nashville International Airport
4. Washington Dulles International Airport
5. San Antonio International Airport
6. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
7. Kansas City International Airport
8. Lambert St. Louis International Airport
9. Miami International Airport
10. Tampa International Airport

How Do I Prevent Hackers from Attacking Me?

You don’t have to stop using public Wi-Fi for the rest of your life, and it’s not exclusively the airport’s fault. Let’s look at an easy solution to protect you from the majority of hackers.

Make Passwords Stronger

You have the ability to turn on two-factor authentication for all your web services. How this works is when you try to login to a website, the website will text message your phone with a code that you’ll enter into the site in addition to your password.

Even if a hacker has your password, they won’t have your phone — which makes it much harder for them to log in to your account.

Use a VPN

A VPN (virtual private network) is a secure and private solution within the wider internet itself that allows you to send and receive data while maintaining the secrecy of a private network.

If you access your data remotely via a VPN connection when you use public Wi-Fi, it can protect data from interception and networks from compromise.

Stay Vigilant

Most importantly, remember to always be alert and use caution when browsing the internet. In your browser, block cookies and remove tracking. Avoid unsafe or untrusted software recommendations. And lastly, avoid suspicious links in your inbox or on your social media feeds.

What Are The New Updates On Microsoft Office 365 For August 2018?

As Microsoft continually works on improving the Office 365 experience for its users, the new August 2018 updates include some helpful, fun, and entertaining new experiences for Microsoft Office 365 users. Let’s take a closer look at the new updates.

Microsoft Whiteboard

As of July 12^th, Microsoft rolled out their Whiteboard app on Windows 10 that gives users the ability to collectively share their ideas and content.

Some of Whiteboard’s features include the capability to draw, write, add images and create virtual sticky notes.  Team members can use a pen, touchscreen, and/or keyboard to share ideas. And your team doesn’t have to be in the same room. They can work from their own devices and from various places around the world.

As with all other 365 apps, the Whiteboard app sessions are saved routinely to the cloud with an expanding technology that never runs out of space.

The app is a free download at the Microsoft Store after logging into a Microsoft account or Office 365 account.

OneDrive

In July, the OneDrive team announced that they launched a new OneDrive Activity Center that is easier to use. One great newly updated feature is an option for conserving battery life on Windows devices. Now, the OneDrive desktop client will instinctively pause sync when it detects a device switches to “battery saver” mode. If you still want to sync, it will give you the option to “Sync anyway.” If you permit sync to remain paused, OneDrive will auto-resume the sync when it finds that the device is no longer in “battery saver” mode.

My Analytics Nudges

MyAnalytics is a tailored set of metrics that gives you the ability to establish habits that will make better use of your time.  It consistently gives insights into how you are spending your time and offers suggestions to work faster and smarter.

Now Microsoft offers a new feature called MyAnalytics Nudges. This new feature submits responsive, data-driven tips as you use Office 365. For example, when you receive new meeting invitations on your calendar, a MyAnalytics Nudge will give you a reminder to block time for your work before accepting the meeting invitation. You can see the existing time blocks on your calendar and reserve a time for the meeting without leaving your inbox.

The MyAnalytics nudges are currently offered in the preview for customers using both Workplace Analytics and MyAnalytics. As the kinks get worked out, Nudges will be available in phases as the summer progresses to enterprise customers on Outlook.

Kaizala

For those who need to work when they don’t have direct access to a desktop or laptop,

Microsoft Kaizala is a new mobile app that speaks to these needs. Using an iPhone or Android device, you are able to communicate and get work done with Kaizala. It provides tools ready for you when you are out in the field and allows the main office to give you updates, send feedback, and chat.

Power BI

Power BI allows you to easily collaborate with your teammates and partners by announcing report sharing in the Power BI Service. The Power BI team at Microsoft has created an easy way for you to share reports with filters and slicers applied.

Until this new update, you would need to take a screenshot or carefully describe the steps you took to construct the report. Today, you just have to check the “Share with current filters and slicers” box, and everyone will see the report with your filters and slicers applied.

Power BI reports are shared through email that adds a URL to the report. When you email the report, just instruct the recipients to bookmark the URL and the linked report will maintain the filters and slicers to present the report exactly the way you created it.

Live Events

Microsoft is adding live event capabilities to Microsoft Stream, Microsoft Teams, and Yammer.  What this means is that customers will now be able to produce better quality live events. Whether you’re creating a big companywide event, a leader update, or a team talk, you’ll enjoy being able to bring people together in a live event.

Live Events will give you the opportunity to efficiently communicate updates to a small or large group using any device. Using Microsoft Stream to deliver studio-quality events which can be viewed in Microsoft Stream, Microsoft Teams, or Yammer, will cut down on confusion as well.

Also, artificial intelligence (AI), will soon be available in Microsoft Stream, including:

• Facial recognition software that identifies who is talking
• Speech-to-text and closed captions to be more inclusive
• Transcript search and timecodes for quickly finding important parts of a video

Workplace Analytics

Workplace Analytics recognizes collaboration patterns that have an effect on a business’ productivity, effectiveness, and engagement.

These new team-focused dashboards in Workplace Analytics will help a company:

• Locate relationship challenges such as too many meetings or too much overtime
• Give teams ideas on how to be more effective through productivity insights and plans of action
• Measure and track a company’s progress goals over time by analyzing their objectives and their effectiveness at meeting the set goals

Wrap Up

Microsoft is still the leader in today’s technology war. They continually create new and exciting ways to save your company and staff time, while improving the user experience. The new updates for August 2018 are no exception. They add some very helpful and fun new tools that make your work life a better experience.

What Are The 10 Top Laptops of 2018?

One does not just walk into a store and purchase the first laptop he sees these days; they’re a pretty big investment! Everyone wants to get all the great features they have in mind with their purchase. Laptops have become somewhat of an extension of who we are. They say a lot about us. Everyone knows the stereotype of the young male Mac Book user.

Today’s laptop industry is jam-packed with impressive models, and if you’re of the notion that laptops make the world go ‘round, you’d do well to spend some time on your research before committing to just one. If it sounds like we’re talking about a committed relationship like between two people, we’re not! Your relationship with your laptop is much more important!

Brands like Apple, Dell, and Lenovo are at the top of their game, and with so many other great options to choose from, laptop shoppers certainly have their work cut out for them. We’ve rounded up the best of the year, measuring everything from portability to design and, of course, performance.

Here are our picks for the 10 most worthy laptops of 2018.

Number One: Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1

Dell’s Latitude models have always given the industry’s top laptops a run for their money. The Latitude 7390 2-in-1 is more of the same, only slightly better with the addition of a few new features, such as Microsoft’s Precision Touchpad. In addition to features like Windows Hello facial recognition, and other security upgrades, a major perk of the new model is its portability. Weighing in at just three pounds, it’s easy to tote around, especially with its 2-in-1 convertibility. It also comes complete with a backlit keyboard with deep keys for comfortable typing.

Number Two: Apple MacBook Pro

Mac users are loyal and with good reason. The Apple MacBook Pro, for instance, is one of the best money can buy, and worth every penny if performance ranks high in your list of must-have qualities for a laptop. The newest version boasts plenty of updates to keep things interesting, including a Touch Bar and capabilities for 32 GB of RAM, a significant bump from the previous max of 16 GB. Inside you’ll find an eighth-gen Intel Core professor for plenty of power and a third-generation butterfly keyboard. All-in-all, the MacBook Pro is a hearty contender for best laptop of the year.

Number Three: LG Gram

LG’s new update to its well-received Gram notebook has a lot of things going for it. There is the portability factor for one, as it packs a mighty punch in a relatively small package, weighing in at just 2.1 pounds. This laptop is also durable, as it’s made from metal alloy, and has met military-grade requirements for drop protection. Inside, you’ll find a hearty 72WHr battery good for a whopping 22.5 hours of usage, plus an Intel Core processor from the eight-gen U series. Other features include a fingerprint reader and multiple ports, including HDMI and microSD.

Number Four: Dell XPS 13

The XPS 13 is Dell’s first full redesign in about three years, and it’s nothing short of awesome. In addition to major improvements on things like power, durability, and portability, this laptop also has style. Stain resistant, UV resistant woven glass fiber adorns the XPS13, and inside you’ll find an Intel eighth-gen Core processor. Included is a high-performing battery good for up to 20 hours of usage. There’s truly not much you won’t be able to do with this by your side.

Number Five: Lenovo Yoga 920 (14)

Lenovo’s Yoga 920 laptop is superior to others in its class for several reasons. The 920 boasts cool features like long-range voice-activated support, an optional pen with pinpoint accuracy, and a brilliant 4K display ideal for entertainment. Incredible responsiveness, Windows Ink, and access to Windows Cortana (the electronic assistant) leaves little room for worry if you’re always on the go.

Number Six: HP EliteBook x360 1030

HP’s third-generation EliteBook x360 1030 is impressive in both design and performance. This notebook was reduced in size for convenience, and it’s loaded with other features that strive for the same. It’s lightweight at 2.76 pounds and comes equipped with a powerful eighth-gen Intel processor, along with 18 hours of battery life. It also offers the option of LTE connectivity so you can get things done even without Wi-Fi.

Number Seven: Asus ZenBook Flip S UX370

The ZenBook Flip S UX370 is not your ordinary 2-in-1 laptop. It’s ultra-thin and lightweight, with powerful components that can tackle most things with ease. Within you’ll find a new Kaby Lake R eighth-gen processor, more than enough RAM and a variety of other features bound to delight users, including a fingerprint magnet. If power is what you want, Asus brought the goods.

Number Eight: Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 520

The 2-in-1 laptop/tablet hybrid is growing in popularity, and IdeaPad’s Miix 520 is one of the best of the bunch. Not only is it affordable, but it’s got power by way of its eighth-generation Core i5 CPU, which is still more powerful than some with Core i7 capabilities. And while its battery life could use some improvement, overall, the IdeaPad Miix 520 is a suitable choice for those seeking a 2-in-1 with major potential.

Number Nine: Huawei MateBook X Pro

Huawei is a lesser known brand in the laptop world, but that doesn’t make the MateBook X Pro any less spectacular. This 13.9-inch model is equipped with an eighth-generation Intel Core i5 – i7, and carries with it an excellent battery life. A rich display and sleek design overall render the MateBook X Pro one of our favorites, and with a moderate price point, it’s within reach for many.

Number Ten: HP EliteBook 1050

The EliteBook 1050 is the first 15-inch in the Elite 1000 series, and it takes complete advantage of its size. Its display can reach up to 650 nits of brightness, and it also comes with an integrated privacy screen. It’s up to par on performance, with Intel’s eighth-generation H series processor, and a capacity for 32 GB of RAM. Its battery life is nothing to scoff at either. The EliteBook is good for 16 hours on a single charge, rounding out the benefits of this notable laptop.

Third-Party Vendor Breach and Subsequent Delays in Reporting Now Result in Major Problems for an Orlando Healthcare Provider

A recent breach left the protected health information (PHI) of more than 19,000 patients in Orlando, Florida completely exposed online for two months before it was detected. What is more concerning, however, is why it took the group of clinics involved five months to report the breach to the Department of Health and Human Services, and six months to alert the affected patients.

How the Breach Happened

The Orlando Orthopaedic Center in Florida hired a 3rd party vendor to handle their transcriptions, as do many clinics and health centers. When the vendor was updating their software during December 2017, they made a serious mistake that misconfigured access to one of their databases. That configuration issue left their server open to the public and accessible over the internet. Anyone who desired could access the patient data stored on that server, and they could do so without any authorization needed. It was two months before the mistake was discovered.

Impact of the Breach

This breach left 19,101 patient records seriously exposed, which was not only a major HIPAA violation but a situation that could easily result in identity theft. Once the breach was recognized, investigators discovered that a great deal of information had inadvertently been made publicly available. This included names, insurance details, dates of birth, medical treatments, employers, and, in a limited number of cases, social security numbers. Fortunately, no financial information (debit card numbers, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or other financial records) were exposed during the breach.

All patients that received treatment from any Orlando Orthopaedic clinic prior to January 2018 would have been affected by the breach. Investigators were not able to determine if anyone had gained access to what should have been PHI, and none of the affected individuals have, as of yet, reported identity theft or misuse of their PHI. However, the investigators were still unable to rule out the possibility of information theft or unauthorized access to patient information.

The aftermath of the Breach

Orlando Orthopaedic did not find out about the breach until February 2018, two months after it occurred. However, it would be almost six months before the affected patients were notified by mail. The clinics involved have yet to provide a reason for the delay in notification.

As a result of the security breach, Orlando Orthopaedic Center employees are receiving cybersecurity training even though they were not directly responsible for the problem. In addition, the affected clinics are taking additional security measures to ensure that PHI stored both on their own servers, as well as accessible through endpoints, are all secured.

The transcription vendor responsible for the breach has offered all the affected patients one year of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection and restoration services. The vendor has also made changes to their security to ensure that information on their servers remains protected from prying eyes.

In addition, all patients involved have been advised to closely monitor their insurance Explanation of Benefits statements, as well as their other accounts for any signs that their PHI is being used fraudulently. In the event that a patient sees unusual activity, they should notify their insurance provider immediately.

Who Is Responsible?

Even if a 3^rd party vendor or business partner is responsible for causing the breach, the healthcare provider is still held responsible. In this case, Orlando Orthopaedic is the responsible party even though it was the security of the vendor that was lax, a situation over which they had no direct control. This reinforces the fact that healthcare providers must be thorough in vetting potential vendors.

Concerns about Delays

As already mentioned, it took Orlando Orthopaedic six months to notify their patients of the PHI breach and five months to notify the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR should have been notified 60 days after discovery of the breach, according to HIPAA guidelines, not five months. The same deadline applies to notifying patients.

No doubt a fine is to be expected. Presence Health delayed reporting a breach to the affected patients and OCR 40 days past the 60-day deadline. Their fine amounted to $475,000 and was the first case of a HIPAA breach fine for the untimely reporting of a breach of unsecured PHI

Conclusion

Even if the breach of PHI is caused by the carelessness of a business partner (including 3rd party vendors), the healthcare clinic is still the entity held responsible. There is a 60-day deadline for notifying OCR and the affected patients, and failure to meet this deadline will most likely result in a punitive fine. Failure to notify the patients right away can damage the reputation of the healthcare provider. Even offers of credit monitoring and iidentitytheft restoration cannot undo the negative effects of the breach.