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For many business owners, Google’s announcement to switch over to mobile-first indexing comes as a real shocker. It’s a revolutionary thing to do in a world of disruptive technology. Since the beginning of the World Wide Web, a company’s desktop website was their first and foremost consideration when developing a marketing plan. With the new changes announced by Google, all that changes. Now, a company’s mobile website is what must be in prime condition.

For some business owners, this change will just be a bump in the road. For others, it’s a huge sinkhole where their profits could fall in and never be seen again. Many business owners still struggle to get their mobile website in excellent working order.

One business owner commented recently, “My mobile website comes up with these huge, looming images and you can’t really read much of the text.”

If this is you, then it’s time to get serious about fixing those issues. The top 5 problems that business owners face with their mobile website are:

1. Being denied access- Users hate getting those little messages that the mobile site they’re searching for isn’t viewable on their device. Or, some say, “Mobile support coming soon.”
2. Performance- Why can’t a mobile website just work the same as a regular one? That’s a big question with lots of answers. Sometimes the mobile device is at blame. Sometimes it’s the load speeds/internet connection.
3. Design- Many users have landed on mobile sites where the images overlay the text, so you can’t really read anything. It’s frustrating and it usually ends with the user going someplace else to shop.
4. URL redirects- This confounded message has been the scourge of surfing the web for many years. There are several reasons why you might get a redirect message. It could be that you typed the wrong thing in your browser. Sometimes links are broken. Other times, the website owner simply has several pages that refer to the same site and they need to do some maintenance. It can also be the result of phishing attempts.
5. Confusing apps- There’s no excuse for this but many business owners have attempted to save money by doing it themselves or hiring a non-professional to design their app.

Why is Google Doing This?

Back in November 2016, Google announced their initial mobile-first indexing effort. They called it “an experiment” and it seemed like a good idea on the face of it. However, no business owners could foresee that the Tech Giant might eventually decide that mobile sites were more valuable than desktop sites.

The reasons they give seem pretty concrete. Almost 60 percent of all searches are performed from a mobile device now. A report from 2015, verified that 56 percent of global search queries originate from a mobile phone. Mobile traffic was responsible for about 49 percent of all website traffic according to this report.^[1]

These numbers are expected to rise significantly over the next ten years. Google has a long reputation of knowing where the next big trends will take place so you can trust their word when it comes to topics like this. The only thing left to do is make sure your mobile website is amazing!

The Good News

Google has repeatedly said that they will transition into this new phase slowly. That’s the good news. All this will not take place overnight. Instead, Google will give business owners time to fix whatever they need to so their mobile site will be first-class.

The other piece of good news is that Google has assured business owners that if they do not have a mobile site, the google bots will still continue to crawl the desktop version of the site. That means your revenue stream should not decline for lack of a high-performing mobile site.

The Google announcement says, “If you only have desktop content, you will continue to be represented in our index.”

Further Clarity Needed

Google also made it clear that mobile-first indexing does not mean that there will now be two separate indexes performed. There will still be only one and it will focus on mobile sites, not desktop sites.

The reason they cite for this is:

“…To better help our primarily mobile users find what they’re looking for.”

For those who don’t know, mobile-friendliness has always been a major factor in determining how a site is ranked. Of course, it’s not the only factor, but it is still a component of ranking your website. Google is quick to point out that if a non-mobile-friendly page has the best (most relevant) information, it will still rank higher than a mobile site with similar content.

The Bottom Line

All business owners should begin to see more traffic in their logs from Googlebot Smartphone. Google search results will contain snippets that have been generated from the content on the mobile version. Though Google has historically used the desktop version of your site for its indexing purposes, times they are a’changin’.

We can either get on board with the changes or be left out in the cold. Most business owners are already hard at work making sure their mobile website is the best it can be. For those who are willing to go the extra mile, this could be a great time of increases in traffic and sales. The sites that are ready to go are the ones that consumers will flock to for all their buying needs.

[1] https://searchengineland.com/report-nearly-60-percent-searches-now-mobile-devices-255025

Data protection and compliance is a major concern for organizations worldwide. With the introduction of the Service Trust Portal, organizations working to support or protect the privacy rights of individuals in Microsoft’s online environment can now rest easy.

Defining the Service Trust Portal

This is a one-stop shop for security, regulatory compliance, and privacy information related to the Microsoft Cloud. The Service Trust Portal, also referred to simply as STP, is a service feature available within Microsoft Office 365 that provides current and prospective users of the platform with a wealth of insight into how the tech giant manages privacy, compliance, and security.

This platform is the location where Microsoft shares information that organizations need to perform due diligence and evaluate all of Microsoft’s cloud services. Microsoft has launched this service as a way to help improve transparency, enhance understanding, and simplify assessments for its users.

What is contained on the STP

The Microsoft Service Trust Portal (STP) contains quite a bit of useful information aggregated from all across the Microsoft cloud services. It also has tools and other resources that organizations need for all things concerning security, compliance, and privacy.

Detailed information

STP is home to in-depth information regarding Microsoft’s way of managing security and how you can access it as a user. The portal has information about compliance and privacy within the Office 365 environment, with the goal of making it easier for users to understand how Microsoft cloud services safeguard data so they can meet their own regulatory compliance objectives.

These include audit reports from independent third-party service providers. Users can find information regarding the ways in which Microsoft’s online services may be able to help organizations comply with regulations and laws. The following standards are included:

• NIST, or the National Institute of Standards and Technology
• FedRAMP, or the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
• ISO, or the International Organization for Standardization
• SOC, or the Service Organization Controls
• General Data Protection Regulation, abbreviated as GDPR

The regulatory environment is just as dynamic as business risks. With all the compliance-related documents in this platform including audit reports, frequently-asked questions, white papers, and more, you’ll be able to learn everything you care to know.

Assessment tools

There are a rich variety of tools on the platform. These include the resources you’ll need for data protection, risk assessment, and compliance management. These resources should simplify your compliance journey.

Microsoft Cloud compliance resources

STP is also loaded with other resources about Microsoft’s security, privacy, and compliance practices. Essentially, these are centralized resources for all of Microsoft’s Cloud services.

Accessing the Service Trust Portal

STP is a free resource available to everybody; both existing Microsoft online services customers and those who are simply evaluating the cloud-based platform.

To access the Microsoft Service Trust Portal or any of the STP materials, you must be logged in to the platform with your Microsoft cloud services account.

Whether you have an Azure Active Directory account or a Microsoft account, log into that account to take advantage of all the tools and resources now available. You will be asked to accept their Non-Disclosure Agreement for Compliance Materials, so click on “Accept” to move forward.

If you are a current Microsoft cloud services registered user, you can access the Service Trust Portal at https://aka.ms/STP with any of the following internet subscriptions available for both trial and paid users:

• Office 365
• Microsoft Azure
• Microsoft Dynamics 365
• Microsoft Intune

New customer sign-up

If you are just considering Microsoft online services for the first time or as a new user, you have the option to create a new account or create a trial account. Either of these should allow you to access the Service Trust Portal.

That said, you can use any of the following sign-up forms to gain access to the Microsoft STP. Ensure that you enable Azure Active Directory at the time of signing up to support your access to the STP.

• New Office 365 Business trial account sign-up form or a new Office 365 Enterprise trial account sign-up.
• New Microsoft Azure trial account sign-up form.
• New Microsoft Dynamics 365 trial account sign-up form.

After you are logged into STP, you can access any of the content available on the platform by navigating to the section containing the item you’re looking for and clicking on it.

To review content on the STP, pick an option from the menu: Audit Reports, Data Protection, Azure Security and Compliance Blueprints, Poland Compliance, Romania Compliance.

Once you locate the item you need, you can click on it and download it locally for your own use. Other resources such as the FAQs are serviceable from within the STP, so you won’t have to constantly download documents to your hard drive.

Wrap up

You’ll be happy to know that Microsoft is regularly adding more tools to STP to empower organizations. So, you’ll want to keep checking back to STP for the latest available information.

The concept of Code Signing SSL Certificates includes protecting users against phony software and assuring that the software is not infected with a virus. Most reputable companies require this certificate before accepting a product and using it. In today’s world, it’s the safest method of guaranteeing that software has not been altered or compromised.

Types of Code Signing SSL Certificates

There are several types of Code Signing SSL Certificates. The Business Validation SSL certificate requires that the software manufacturer or developer provide verification documents to the Certificate Authority. Once these documents are submitted, it can take three days for approval. This approval guarantees the authenticity of the digital program.

Code Signing SSL Certificates for Individuals are used less, though still important. If an individual programmer creates an app or software product and wants to include a Code Signing SSL Certificate, then the programmer must provide documents that prove his/her identity.  The Certificate Authorities check to make sure this person is who he says and that he is the author of the digital work.

What is a Code Signing SSL Certificate?

This certificate is a way for the programmer to digitally sign his or her work. An authentic Code Signing SSL Certificate includes a company or individual’s name, their signature, and often a timestamp, though this is not required. With this certificate, end users can feel confident that the program will work as promised.  SSL Certificates are used on software programs, applications, script, code, and drivers.

Improving Internet Security

Security on the World Wide Web has become an important commodity. There are phishing attacks launched daily. Along with that, ransomware has become quite prevalent. Attackers lock your computer files then demand a ransom be paid, usually in Bitcoin. Add to that so many computer viruses and worms hidden within suspicious links that it’s difficult to keep up today.

In spite of the great amount of publicity about these attacks, many are successful due to a poorly educated public. Most users admit they sometimes click on links or visit sites they probably shouldn’t. It’s human to think that bad things only happen to other people.

Large reputable companies like Microsoft simply can’t take chances with their security or risk exposing end users to harm. The cost in both time and money would be too great; not to mention the damage to their reputation. That makes the Code Signing SSL Certificate very critical to businesses with a strong reputation to protect.

 

With this certificate, we can be assured of two important elements:

• Content Source Authentication — ensures the developer’s code legitimacy
• Content Integrity — verifies that the code is authentic and has not been tampered with

How to view the SSL Certificate

To authenticate a software program, click on the certificate that has been issued. You should be able to view the publisher’s name. There may be other information such as a timestamp. If it isn’t there, then the software originates from an “Unknown Publisher”. It may or may not be authentic. It could contain spyware, ransomware, malware, or other viruses. In some cases, thieves download authentic-looking programs onto your computer with a dangerous script running in the background. These lines of code can allow the Software Pirate to steal passwords and/or personal information.

How do Code Signing SSL Certificates work?

Just like other SSL Certificates, the Code Signing Certificate is created based on the public-private key pair. Though a key pair is related mathematically, the private key can only be decrypted by its original owner. Public keys are made available to anyone with access to the public repository. If you have a message that you only want one person to be able to read, this can be done using a private key. It always remains confidential and private to its respective owner.

This history of Cryptography

The concept of cryptography began as early as 1874 when William Stanley Jevons wrote a book called The Principles of Science. In it, he described various ways of creating a message that could only be read by the intended party. His theory was to produce a long random number that could only be known by one other person. For years, various mathematicians worked on the idea until 1970 when a British cryptographer working for the UK government came up with what he called, “non-secret encryption”.

Cryptographers and scientists saw the important applications for military use. Being able to send messages that the enemy could not read became a vital function of national security for all governments. Though this type of cryptography is still used today, it’s more common usage now is to protect software programs from alteration.

Why are SSL Certificates necessary?

When an application or program does not have a Code Signing SSL Certificate, any programmer can go into it and change lines of code however they want. This leaves everyone vulnerable. Maybe the programmer improved the software but maybe he added a Trojan worm.  Individuals and especially companies have a lot at risk and simply cannot afford to download malware or ransomware that would lock up all their files.

Reputable software manufacturers want to ensure that their products are free from tampering and the Code Signing SSL Certificate makes alteration impossible. It’s the perfect way to let users know that the software or app is authentic.

The process of creating a Code Signing SSL Certificate

There are multiple steps required in the process of creating the Code Signing SSL Certificate. The process begins with the actual code signing itself. This confirms the identity of the person or company that created the software. The steps are briefly outlined below:

1. The software developer requests a Code Signing SSL Certificate.
2. The identity of the developer is certified.
3. A special Code Signing program is used to attach the SSL certificate to the software as a digital signature.
4. The developer can now send the program out to publishers.
5. Publishers double check to make sure the digital signature is authentic.
6. A time stamp is often entered so that the certificate doesn’t expire.

Local government agencies are concerned by the lack of cybersecurity awareness among government employees and end users. This was a shocking discovery learned from a poll conducted by the Public Technology Institute back in September 2017. The poll found that there were two major factors that were working as obstacles to better cybersecurity. The number one issue was training employees and end users. The number two problem was financial constraints. The survey targeted Public Technology Institute’s city and county government membership as respondents.

The quick poll which was titled, How Secure is Your Local Government?[1] found that:

• 42% of the respondents have not performed a network security audit within the past 12 months.
• 62% do not have a formal breach response policy.
  48% do not provide comprehensive security and awareness training to end users/government employees.
• 54% of the responding organizations do not have cyber liability or data breach insurance.
• Only 55% have an enterprise-wide cybersecurity plan.
• 71% have a staff person responsible for managing their cybersecurity efforts.

Good news and bad news

Though some of these statistics are alarming, some do show that the government is beginning to take cybersecurity seriously. They understand the importance of protecting the personal information of the public.

The topic of cybersecurity has been ranking as a top of priority in other forums, such as the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). In their “State CIO Ten Priorities for 2017” report[2], security and risk issues were ranked as major concerns.

Nick Wilding, head of cyber resilience and best practice at AXELOS, argued that “Staff should be a business’ most effective security control, but are typically one of their greatest vulnerabilities.”

He warned that “Organizations need to be more certain that they are engaging their people effectively.” He went on to say that the person or entity with the most to lose in case of a security breach should bear the majority of the responsibility for sound security procedures. This can be achieved by training and equipping the stakeholders with important knowledge and the tools they need to deal with the threats that loom on the horizon.

Relevance of training

Cybersecurity is dynamic in the sense that it can be likened to a deadly virus that keeps changing in form and improving its own composition against attacks from antidotes. As soon as the cure is found, it has already changed itself and the new cure is no longer sufficient to kill it completely. That is why employees and end users must be better equipped with the ability to anticipate the ever-changing methods used by hackers. Training employees and end users must be completed at regular intervals. It will not work if it’s only conducted once or twice. This is the most effective way to ensure that cyber breaches will end someday.

Best practices

The awareness training provided should be directly related to the job description of the recipient trainee with consideration to the information security risks they face. Users should be aware of threats such as phishing and social engineering. They should also be taught the importance of having strong password protection. Too many people still use easy-to-discern passwords and/or the same passwords across multiple accounts. They must be taught new techniques for creating passwords that are difficult to crack. This can only be achieved by conducting the training periodically.

Financial Resources

Most local governments have adopted their cybersecurity framework from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and that of the FBI’S Criminal Justice Information Services. These agencies offer important security guidelines.

However, local and federal governments have suffered massive data breaches in the past, which have led to the erosion of public trust. Though government agencies have learned a great deal from these experiences, the general public may still not trust that the government has it all together when it comes to cyber threats. In their defense, the government is working continuously on programs and procedures that will anticipate attacks in advance. They’re using the best technology to find and close loopholes in their security grid. And lastly, they are starting to train employees on cyber security best practices.

Conclusion

Human error has been responsible for some the worst data breaches, but local governments are still seen as the culprit when it comes to the mishandling of important data. The public has a right to expect its government to work harder and do more to protect the personal information of citizens. Consumers believe that the government has unlimited resources when it comes to solving problems like this, so there’s no excuse for them to stumble. Of course, the issues are much more complicated than that, but the sooner every organization has the best cyber security available on the planet, the sooner we can all go back to buying and selling online without worry.

[1] http://www.pti.org/news/

[2] https://www.nascio.org/Publications/ArtMID/485/ArticleID/441/State-CIO-Top-Ten-Policy-and-Technology-Priorities-for-2017

 

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The rise of cybercrime has led to the increasing need for protecting data from these criminals. Countries all over the world are working incessantly towards finding a lasting solution to cybercrime. In this regard, the EU has enacted a new directive, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which governs member countries on data protection. These regulations also promote privacy for persons in the European Union and address export of data from outside the European Union. The main aim of these regulations is to give power to individuals over their data, thus to ensure the protection of personal data to the extent agreeable to individuals. Adopted in 2016, the deadline for compliance with this regulation is 25^th May 2018.

The Statistics

Various organizations dealing with data are hurriedly working to comply. To date, there may be as many as 90% of these organizations that are just not ready. In fact, a majority of these organizations have not put in place the required protocols to ensure the smooth transition into compliance.

What you need to know about GDPR

These regulations apply, basically, to all organizations which have access to the internet and which provide data services to members of the European Union. It also applies to persons and organizations that reside outside the European Union if they collect and process the personal data of those residing within the European Union.

What this means in simple terms is that if someone from a European Union nation visits your website and fills out the contact form, then you must follow these regulations when processing their personal information.

Member States of the European Union are also required, pursuant to these rules to establish an independent supervisory authority, which will be mandated to hear and investigate complaints and to sanction administrative offenses.

In accordance with these regulations, in certain circumstances, data can be lawfully processed. Lawful processing of data occurs when:

• An individual has given consent to have their personal data processed for one or more specific reasons.
• Processing of data must be done in order to fulfill a contract or in circumstances where the data must be processed before a contract can be entered into.
• There is a legal obligation to process the data.
• Processing must be carried out in order to protect the interests of a person or entity.
• Processing must be carried out in order to protect public interests or the official authority vested in the controller.
• Processing is necessary to achieve the fundamental rights and freedoms of an individual, especially a child.

Requirements for compliance

In requiring compliance with the GDPR, large corporations are the main targets. This does not, however, mean that small businesses that deal with and process data can easily get away with non-compliance.

To ensure the implementation of these regulations, rather severe penalties have been adopted. With such significant penalties, businesses should work hard to be in full compliance.

Compliance and business size

The bulk of businesses which will be affected by these regulations are the big corporations that process a great deal of information each day. Though small businesses must also comply, they are not seen as primary targets or at as much risk of having to pay the penalties for non-compliance. Small businesses should not be too comfortable as to wait for the deadline before beginning the process since compliance may be somewhat complicated, especially when it comes to putting in place the necessary protocols for compliance. Though some experts see large organizations more as targets for GDPR watch groups, small businesses can also be fined for non-compliance.

Getting ready

Before one can attempt to comply with these regulations, one must completely understand them. People affected by these regulations are required to understand their scope and particularly, the type of data protected. The data covered includes identity, web, health and genetic info, biometric data, mental, cultural, economic, and social and political identities.

Goal of GDPR

Over the years, and with the advancement in technology, the need for data protection has increased. Cybercriminals are constantly creating new ways of breaching confidentiality and stealing and manipulating data. Affected countries are therefore put to task to ensure that these practices are prevented. This is the goal of the GDPR. Its main purpose is to protect the data of individuals. This need was advanced by the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Following the revelations of this group, the need to protect data became much more real. Lack of appropriate measures ensuring cybersecurity can have dire effects to individuals and to nations.

Final thoughts

With the deadline for compliance already passed, it is important that all those affected by these regulations do comply. These regulations are meant to protect individuals, businesses, organization, and even governments from cyber theft and data manipulation. Having considered the penalties for non-compliance, it is imperative that organizations avoid the last minute rush and put in place measures now to ensure their full compliance.

Is Your Organization Prepared?

Today’s networked medical devices can be a lifesaver for many. Both wired and wireless technology allows healthcare workers to access the information they need to provide improved therapies and ensure patient compliance.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one giant step forward in this regard. It can eliminate the use of antiquated methods that still rely on paper-based processes for of hospitals and clinics. This new technology makes diagnoses and treatment much easier and improves accuracy—errors can be prevented as well. It also provides a vehicle for the transfer of accurate medical records that can mean the difference between life and death.

The IoT Allows For The Transmission Of Accurate Data In Real Time

IoT medical devices allow health data to be transmitted in real time to trained health care attendants. Once the healthcare worker examines these records, he can call for emergency services if needed. This is a good way to learn whether a patient should be admitted to the emergency room. Patients no longer need to guess if their blood pressure or heartbeat reading requires immediate attention.

Networked thermometers send readings directly to IT systems that add the data to a patient record, and alert attendants if a reading is out of the expected range. Even drug dispensing can be automated to reduce the chance of overdoses or lack of patient compliance with a prescribed treatment plan. All of this provides peace of mind for both patients and caregivers.

The IoT Can Improve Business Processes For Healthcare Organizations

Detecting warning signs of a serious illness early on is of benefit not only to patients but to healthcare organizations. It’s a proven fact that early intervention can make it less expensive to treat an illness. But it can also save someone’s life. If their cancer is caught in time, there are some very effective means of treatment and some patients go into complete remission. All with the use of IoT technology.

Today, IoT in healthcare enables healthcare organizations to provide outpatient care in patients’ homes or in lower-cost clinics.  This has the potential to free up hospital beds for patients with more intensive care needs. Patients enjoy being able to heal in the comfort of their own home. It’s often a much better environment than a hospital room.

In addition to patient care benefits, IoT networked medical devices provide opportunities that can improve business processes for health organizations. The more data they accumulate, the more information they have for operational planning.

These devices can be used to:

• Incorporate patient medical readings with electronic health records.
• Detect any issues that may impact medical equipment operability.
• Send software updates to devices over a network.
• Manage and track medical IT assets to see if they’re being used for optimal ROI.

Big Data Is On The Rise

However, with the increased use of the IoT devices, comes the requirement to manage and store massive amounts of data – big data. And, unless an organization stays on top of this, they could face challenges regarding network connectivity, data storage, data processing, and IT security.

Fiscal concerns are driving the demand for big-data applications. Payors are entering the field with their own requirements and agreements for healthcare organizations. Rising healthcare costs require deeper analysis and data integration for organizations to deliver care more cost effectively than ever before.

Where physicians traditionally used their best judgment when making treatment decisions, now they’re moving towards evidence-based medicine which involves systematically reviewing massive amounts of clinical data. Compiling individual sets of data into big-data algorithms provides a more robust set of values and, in most cases, better and more cost-effective treatment decisions.

4 Important Things To Know When Setting Up a Healthcare IT Infrastructure That Utilizes Big Data:  

1. Processing, storing, and managing big data is not the same as with traditional data. It requires special consideration when developing IT infrastructures to handle it. You need flexible and open interfaces because you must plan and prepare for new forms of data that may emerge. So, don’t assume you can use traditional data modeling solutions when using big data.
2. Big data infrastructures must focus on the core operations and purpose of your healthcare organization. It’s essential to identify how big data will be used, and model that data in your planning.
3. When considering big data methodologies, technology teams should be able to build data models that match your unique requirements. Big data requires an entire system rather than a database structure like that for traditional data. The components of big data should contain corporate governance for security and accessibility, requirements for business information, storage requirements, open interfaces, and integration for various types of data.
4. Identify and deliver only quality data. Concentrate on applying sound definitions through metadata that describes the data, where it came from and what its purpose is. The more closely you can identify the data, the better it will support your purpose.

To date, the healthcare sector has lagged behind sectors like retail and banking in the utilization of big data. Some of the reasons for this are due to concerns over patient confidentiality. However, out of the need for more cost-effective results and improved management of care, the IoT and big data are catching on in the world of healthcare. The question remains, is your healthcare organization prepared for this revolutionary change?

Accounting, just like every other profession, is affected by our ever-changing world. The increase in technological advances alone can leave your head spinning.  Though technology endeavors to make work easier for everyone, it requires your full attention to keep up.

However, technology is responsible for numerous positive changes in every field or industry. An accounting firm can get a lot more done each day with the professional software programs now available. Many boring, repetitive jobs are accomplished with these programs and this allows accounting professionals to utilize their time on more important tasks.

Today’s technology can make it much easier for you to find new employees for your accounting firm, qualified personnel who have already been vetted. Most of today’s accounting firms have embraced the changes that are occurring in our technology-driven world. And yet, many are undergoing dramatic changes that affect their business from various angles.

From cyber threats to rising costs, the accounting industry is facing its share of tough problems. Savvy business owners overcome these challenges and move forward. They turn these problems into stepping stones that lead to new opportunities. Still, these issues can slow down the workflow and require too much attention. The struggle can be tiresome and never-ending.

Below are our top five tough problems that accounting firms face today.

1)Retiring Baby Boomers

Each year, approximately 4 million baby boomers retire. This trend is expected to continue for the next 19 years. These people represent years of training and experience. Every industry is being affected by this, including accounting. As CPA firms across the country lose these knowledgeable employees, they reach out to secure the top talent available. But this trend has created a very competitive environment where an accounting firm must be able to offer more to get those well-trained college graduates. This problem reaches across all industries today and as noted above, it will continue on for another two decades. CPA firms are trying to balance their need for the best employees with budgetary restrictions.

2)Winning the Talent War

While winning the talent war is no easy battle, there are a few options that accounting firms can employ. One of the suggestions that has worked for many firms involves enhancing your company’s brand. Highly skilled workers want to be associated with a good company that has an outstanding reputation. As accounting firms are struggling to get the best talent available, they’re realizing how important their brand is. There are numerous ways to elevate your brand and in some cases, it will benefit accountants to hire consultants who specialize in this area.

Below, are just a few ways to improve your reputation and attract those talented college graduates you need to move your business to the next level:

• Get your CPA firm involved in community activities. For instance, volunteer once a month at a soup kitchen, children’s hospital, or orphanage. Nothing speaks louder than a group of professionals willing to give their time and talents to help the poor and needy.
• Improve your culture. Many companies have greatly benefited by improving their company culture. That’s the secret behind the huge successes of Google, Microsoft, and Disney. Employees love where they work. They’re proud to say they work there.
• Create High-Profile Events. This can be as simple or complex as you like. Some business owners write a book and then create book-signing events on a regular basis. Others do webinars each month. For instance, in the accounting field, you could create a webinar each month to show business owners how to save on taxes.
• Post Good Photos of Events. Now that your company is involved in volunteering, in conferences, webinars, and other events like this, be sure to take good photos. Post them online regularly so the public can see what your company is up to.

3)Pressure to Reduce Prices

One of the first things that companies think of when faced with an increase in their expenses is to simply go up on the cost of their services.  As all accountants know, the budget has to work out so that it fits within a reasonable margin. Now that you’re having to hire new talent, fresh out of college, where will the money come from to pay those salaries? At the same time, new accounting firms are popping up all over the place offering lower prices than yours. Increased competition almost always drives prices down.

One of the most successful strategies that companies have used involves making your Brand more valuable. Of course, there are multiple ways to accomplish this. Get connected to industry specialists who already have good public visibility. Work at getting selected for local radio or TV programs where you talk about any number of accounting-related topics. As you boost your visibility in the marketplace, you set yourself up to command higher billing rates.

4)Stand Out

In this day and age, people tend to lump all accounting firms (legal firms, etc.) together. But, you’ve worked your whole life to set your business apart from the others. This means that you may have to work consistently at making your differentiators well known in your community. Why are your services worth more? Why is your accounting firm the best one to work at? These are all questions you should immediately know the answers to.

5)Advancing Technology

The last and perhaps most important challenge that accounting firms face is the constant need to update their technology. You want to have the latest and greatest software programs and network services, but all this can be expensive. To make matters worse, technology is constantly evolving. Today’s smartphones contain advanced features you couldn’t get a year ago.

For many small businesses, the best way to alleviate this concern is to find a great managed IT service provider and allow them to handle the technical aspects of your accounting firm. Make sure your contract with them includes regular updates to the latest network and computer technology. This can cut your overall costs and give you the same technology solutions as an accounting firm twice your size.

Communication is definitely made more accessible as a result of technology. Unlike previous years where people placed heavy reliance on letters and messengers, currently, people can communicate at the tap of a button. Communication is essential in any business. For people to know what is required of them in the business environment, for suppliers to know the exact quantity of products that they are required to supply, and when the supply is necessary, people need to communicate. The most successful businesses place considerable reliance on communication.

Small businesses and especially, those that have just begun, often feel the need to use more affordable means of communication. With the availability of the internet, this is no longer a problem. The number of computers that a business purchases is directly influenced by the size and the income of the business. In this regard, therefore, small businesses may find themselves unable to purchase as many computers as they need. This is where smartphones come in.

Currently, almost everyone in the world owns a smartphone. Smartphones have made life more comfortable. They allow people to access information everywhere and at any time due to their portability. These devices are a gem to small businesses. First of all, almost every owner and employee in small companies own smartphones. People can access their emails when traveling or out working on a job.

For successful and efficient use of smartphones to access emails, small businesses must depend on reliable, practical, and affordable email applications. There are numerous applications which allow people to access their emails through mobile phones. The functionality of these applications is similar though they may provide different features. Depending on the smartphone used and the needs of the small business, smartphone users, and especially those who use iPhones, often develop preferences to specific apps over others.

Google

This is definitely one of the most used applications. Google provides a range of services that small businesses may find attractive. The google app allowing for access to emails called Gmail. Firstly, this app is easy to use. Gmail can be used by even novices without much training. Secondly, it is fast, compared to other apps. A particularly helpful feature of the Google email service is that if you send an email by mistake, you have the option of undoing send. This definitely saves businesses embarrassment if an incorrect email is sent by mistake. The Google application is available online at the Apple store and can be downloaded free of charge.

Microsoft Outlook

This application is particularly loved by iOS users. While allowing the user to access email at his or her convenience, this app enables immediate access to emails from frequent contacts without subjecting the user to looking through other unimportant emails. It sorts out these emails for you. The app allows users access to their calendar, enabling them to mark essential days and reminders. You can set up meetings right from your phone or even attend a meeting. Like the Google app, this app is available in the Apple App store.

Airmail

Though initially meant for Mac, this app is available for iPhone and iPad users. It integrates with Gmail, MS Exchange, IMAP, Yahoo!, AOL, Live.com, and Outlook. This app has exciting features including full inbox sync, interactive push notification, and snooze. It is an Apple Design Award winner.

Spark

Though not as popular as Google, Spark is a great email app for small businesses. This app group emails automatically thus enabling the user to identify the urgent emails immediately. The app is easy to use and faster than most email apps. This app may be downloaded from the App Store.

Edison Mail

This is one of the fastest email apps. It supports most email accounts including Yahoo and Hotmail and is available free in the App Store.

Triage

The primary purpose of this app is to clean up email clutter thus simplifying the process of emailing. You can download this vital app from the App Store.

Inky

Unlike other email apps, this app uses hashtags to organize emails and sort out the important ones from the less important ones. Basically, it applies hashtags as labels to messages. It also signs emails automatically. Get this efficient app from the App Store.

Zero

This app works similarly as Tinder. It allows you to sort out your emails easily by merely swiping right to keep them and left to delete them. It also sorts emails such as newsletters for you. This app is available for free in the App Store.

Newton

This app is available in the App Store. Unlike other services, it is not free but is subscription based. Its main feature is the send later which allows you to draft emails and send them to the recipient later on. It costs $50.

Astro

Controlled by an AI assistant, this app provides both email and calendar services. The Astro assistant can be asked questions and responds to numerous commands. If your business uses Slack, you can integrate with that program to send and share Slack messages. It is available free from App Store.

Not-for-profit organizations frequently contend with the lack of time and money needed to afford large IT investments that are critical for achieving efficiency in their operations. The few organizations that somehow manage to afford these technologies constantly have to deal with scarce resources and manpower needed to manage the technology.

There is another glaring problem within the nonprofit environment: the staff, Board members, and volunteers are often spread across several locations. Further, their rampant use of different devices and operating system (OS) versions tend to result in difficulties accessing the organizations’ latest files.

Microsoft Office 365 – addressing the challenges nonprofits face

Office 365 is Microsoft’s global offering designed to provide eligible users with access to the company’s top-of-the-line cloud-based tools for collaboration and productivity. The service is complete with web conferencing and high definition (HD) video, calendars, business class email, online Microsoft office suite, as well as file storage and sharing.

While Microsoft has a provision to offer these services to eligible, qualified nonprofits as a donation, the organization can purchase important additional functionalities at a small fee.

Beside the rich apps connected to the Microsoft Cloud always being up-to-date, they are available for users on a 24/7 basis.

If these are not reasons enough for you to jump aboard the Office 365 bandwagon, then read along to find out further why your nonprofit should invest in Microsoft Office 365.

Voice and web conferencing allows for easy collaboration

Successful running of any nonprofit heavily depends on the quality of collaboration between its members. Among the suite of tools that come with Microsoft Office 365 is the Microsoft Skype for Business, an all-in-one tool for web conferencing, video calls, voice calls, and instant messaging.

The HD video conferencing capability means that nonprofit teams can meet and collaborate with each other regardless of where they are located. Out-of-office personnel and volunteers can remotely share data and influence timely decision making.

You’ll also like to know that Skype for Business has a note-taking feature that works in real time. This can allow you to keep track of notes and new ideas from every meeting.

Social networking is easier with Office 365

Every Microsoft Office 365 Nonprofit plan comes with the tech giant’s internal social network, Yammer – designed for organizations like your own.

With your own Yammer site, it is easier than ever to bring teams together regardless of where they are located across the globe.

Yammer allows the organization’s internal staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders to connect, share, and collaborate seamlessly at all times.

Teams can edit and share documents on the go

Microsoft Office 365 also includes Microsoft’s cloud-based file-sharing tool SharePoint Online. With this advanced file sharing tool, teams can easily edit and share documents with one another, even on their mobile devices. Many users love the fact that they can actually edit documents simultaneously with colleagues on this cloud-based platform – effectively saving time and the possible confusion associated with back and forth emailing of documents.

There is simply so much you can accomplish with your documents in the cloud. Your board reports will be available in the cloud and you can share them remotely or access them, along with grant applications and other equally essential documents anywhere, at any time.

Microsoft’s online office suite, Office Online, also allows you to create and edit files using lightweight Microsoft Office web apps including Word, Excel, OneNote, and PowerPoint. So, your team will have the liberty to open, view, and edit various document forms right from their browsers, both on iOS and Android devices.

The staff and volunteers can use Microsoft Office 365 to open, view, and edit practically any document on up to five of their devices. This empowers them with the flexibility to work anywhere anytime.

There is guarantee of security and compliance

Data security is one of the greatest concerns to any nonprofit organization. Nonprofits also have to comply with applicable privacy and compliance laws. The good news is, Microsoft’s Office 365 is engineered to the highest level of privacy and security standards.

The service has built-in malware protection to safeguard your data in the cloud. As such, your nonprofit organization can have peace of mind storing its data in the cloud and sharing even the most sensitive information without running the risk of noncompliance with data protection requirements.

Nonprofit organizations enjoy 24/7 support

Office 365 offers the luxury of 24/7 professional-level customer support so you won’t need any IT staff to stay on call. The level of support your nonprofit organization gets depends on your organization’s Office 365 Nonprofit plan.

Final thoughts

Technology-related problems can create indecisiveness and slow down efforts in the nonprofit environment, eventually taking a toll on important mission activities. This can hurt productivity overall. With its full capabilities as an installed software, as well as its cloud accessibility that ensures collaboration both online and offline, Microsoft Office 365 is an excellent tool for every nonprofit organization that wishes to achieve maximum efficiency.

A Look at the Current Versions of Microsoft Office 365, Features, and Prices

Business owners agree that Microsoft 365 is an indispensable product that they could not live without. It includes popular programs that people the world over have been using for years. The go-to word processing program is MS Word. People love this software and swear by it. Even those older versions like MS Word 2007 are still popular with the masses.

When it comes to dealing with spreadsheets, there really isn’t a better program than Excel. The same goes for PowerPoint. Most of us even use this program for our home videos. If there is a magic ingredient as to the popularity of Microsoft products, it is probably how user-friendly they are. The company very wisely uses the same Ribbon at the top of each program.

If you know how to use Word, you can learn PowerPoint, Outlook, or Excel very quickly. The formatting tools are basically the same. In spite of how useful and user-friendly these products are, most business owners are not familiar with the various Microsoft Office 365 packages. The company wanted to develop specific office programs for industries like education, government, non-profits, etc. They also wanted to offer scaled up versions for larger businesses. Though these seem like great concepts, they’ve created somewhat of a “Monster” when it comes to figuring out which package your company should be using.

To remedy that, we are offering a simplistic overall view of each product. You can see the basic features offered and the approximate cost. If you’re still unsure, talk to other business owners or ask an IT specialist.

Office 365 ProPlus

This version includes the standard office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. You can also get limited usage of Publisher and Access. The cost is around $12 per month per user. Cloud file-storage and sharing with OneDrive is included but business email is not. The product is installed directly on the user’s computer and licensed by user, whereas Office ProPlus is licensed by a device.

Office 365 Enterprise E1

This product offers businesses the use of MS Office online for phones, tablets, and computers. At the price point of $8.00 per month per user, Office mobile apps can be installed on up to 5 phones and 5 tablets per user. The software is available for iOS®, Android™ and Windows phones and tablets with screen sizes up to 10.1”. Also included are some valuable services that businesses use every day including:

• Exchange
• OneDrive
• SharePoint
• Yammer
• Skype for business
• Microsoft teams

Office 365 Enterprise E3

For around $20 per month per user, businesses can get all the features offered with Office 365 ProPlus and Office 365 Enterprise E1. All of the applications and services listed above are included in that price. In addition, this software package contains compliance tools, which have practically become indispensable today due to the intricacies of HIPAA and other compliance programs. Security tools, along with data loss prevention round out this suite of programs and services.

Of course, there’s a lot more to it than that. Broadcast Skype for business allows you to engage with up to 10,000 people. Attendees can join from any device and they can interact with speakers. This tool alone could be worth its weight in gold if you have a big audience you want to get a message out to. You can perform instant polls or get immediate reactions to a new product or service.

Microsoft StaffHub allows users to manage their workday with information sharing and schedule management apps. These are just a few of the many great features included in this suite of programs.

Office 365 Enterprise E5

This product is the Cadillac of all MS Office products. It includes everything mentioned in the other packages, along with voice capabilities, analytics, and advanced security features. It comes at a cost of $35 per month per user, but it does include all the productivity tools and services a business could need.

It is built for large organizations with diverse needs. It’s available for just about any device and includes some exceptional business calling features. One of the most popular features, MS Teams connects your employees so they can discuss their latest project in real time.

Advanced Threat Protection can give you greater control over hidden threats embedded in emails, links, and attachments. This is a great feature that can prevent your employees from accidentally opening the door to cybercriminals. One cyber breach today will cost you around $1.3 million. Large organizations with the budget for it are utilizing every security tool available to protect their important data. Encrypted email is a must these days and it comes standard with this package.

Not included with any other packages, Power Bi is a useful business analytics service that gives you some powerful business intelligence capabilities, including interactive visualization. Users work with interactive dashboards to create reports and data warehouses. Power Bi allows users to work with data in many different ways, from cleaning and loading it to integrating the data where desired. Microsoft has plans to continue adding features to this program so that it contains the most sophisticated business intelligence tools available anywhere.

Conclusion

All the above Microsoft Office products require signing an annual contract, but most businesses realize that they simply can’t function anymore without the rich array of tools that Microsoft provides. These programs are available from any device or location. They include various levels of customer support. Each year when these products are updated, users get those updates for free. That means you’ll always have the latest version of your favorite Microsoft programs. MS Office 365 is optimized for any device.