Reliable Home Access Control – How To Create a Safer Home with Technology

Ensuring strong access control to your home is essential if you want to keep it safe. And the fact is we all want to feel as safe at home as possible right now.

From keeping track of who goes in and out of your house to knowing when an unauthorized person is trying to bypass your system, smart home security begins with access control. In this blog, we’ll explore some great places to start for reliable protection in and around your property.

Smart Door Locks

The obvious place to start with your access control system is your door locks. After all, they’re your first line of defense against any possible outside threat. By integrating smart locks — digital devices that don’t require a traditional key – you can get a lot of benefits. Whether you prefer using keycards, PIN codes or biometric scanners for your system, by installing some you can help ensure that your home will remain safe.

In fact, biometrics are among the fastest-growing means of access authorization in homes and businesses across the country. By scanning your fingerprint or retina to unlock the door, you never have to worry about losing your key. Plus, because you’re actually using parts of your body to gain entry, the system is almost impossible to trick.

Integrated Cabinets and Safes

Want to make sure the kids don’t break into the liquor cabinet when you’re out? Smart access control allows you to lock up cabinets and safes digitally. That means only users with the appropriate authorization can get in. You don’t have to worry about anyone sneaking a drink, even if you’re miles away.

Of course, if you have certain valuables locked away you may want to give someone emergency access authorization. But that doesn’t mean giving up security. You can easily monitor who uses the code or fingerprint scanner and receive push notifications immediately when it’s engaged.

Geo-Fencing Technology

Want hands-free control over your home security? Invest in a geo-fence. Geo-fences use your smartphone GPS to determine where you are geographically and engages your access control system based on the information.

If you step around the corner, your doors could automatically lock. If you drive to a different city, your entire home could engage in an “away” mode, shutting down all non-essential power and activating your security and surveillance systems. Conversely, once you return home, your property can automatically prepare for your arrival.

Are you interested in smart access control for your property? Contact us today to discuss your unique needs.

How to Improve Your Wi-Fi when Everyone’s Working From Home

If when you’re watching a movie, your Wi-Fi cuts out, it’s a bummer. But it can feel like a calamity if it happens when you’re talking to your boss over Skype or giving a presentation via Zoom. And if your kid keeps getting kicked out of their online classes because your Wi-Fi is bad it’s a problem too.

However, as #stayathome, remote work and online learning are likely to remain the norm for quite a while yet these are issues you’ll need to deal with. Working from home means that you will have to be your own IT department and maintain your Internet connectivity so that you can access company services, communicate with friends, and show that you don’t slack off. And keep your kids in class.

Without investing a cent, you can address some issues quite easily, but some problems require purchasing new hardware, or making some slightly more complex changes.

Just Move

Just move your router closer. Yes, it seems simplistic, but switching to a couch or table next to the router will stabilize a spotty connection during a call, and it could be the most reliable option you can implement with the least amount of hassle if you need the faster speed RIGHT NOW.

Check for Firmware Upgrades

Improvements in firmware for your router often provide speed tweaks and may fix established buggy system issues.

There are automatic firmware updates for most mesh networking kits and many new routers, but some routers still make you log in to the admin page of your device and then manually check and upgrade the firmware. In general, under “device settings,” “advanced settings,” or “system tools,” is where you will find firmware updates, but a Google search for your router’s model number should pull up a user manual with more comprehensive instructions if you need them.

Move Your Router Set Up to a Central Location

Don’t hide your router in a cabinet, as that can lead to overheating, and Wi-Fi signals can be blocked by the construction materials in the cabinet. Wi-Fi signals radiate out from the router, so your best bet is to position the router in the center of your house, provided you can move the router and cable modem together.

Look for nearby shelves if you can’t plug in your router somewhere else and place the router physically higher in the room with no obstructions around it. If there are external antennas for your router, ensure that they are securely screwed in. If they are still in the box, they don’t do any good.

Use Band Steering

Band steering works like your router’s traffic control to link your gadgets to the best channels. This function pushes slower devices to the 2.4 GHz bands with weaker signals and places the 5 GHz bands on stronger, closer devices.

That way, for example, the smart speaker in an upstairs bathroom will be on a separate channel and will not interfere with a video meeting downstairs on a laptop. On the administration page of your router, look for a setting like “Smart Link”. By default, it should be on, but if not, it can usually be found under the “Wi-Fi settings” tab.

Unplug, Disconnect or Retire Older Devices

As they hold on to their network connections longer than newer 802.11ac devices, older 802.11 g and 802.11n Wi-Fi devices can tie up your network without you realizing it . After all, a router is not simultaneously connected to all your devices; rather, it switches back and forth at a blindingly fast rate between them.

During work hours, unplug or turn off older Internet security cameras, tablets, and even older smartphones. You shouldn’t have to worry about idle devices like game consoles, but older smart devices may constantly connect to Internet services and slow down your connection quite unnecessarily.

Minimize Bandwidth Hogging Distractions

Listening to Spotify in the background while working is probably fine, but quit the app if you’re trying to get the best speeds possible. And if your connection is causing problems, resist the urge to stream Netflix just because no one is around to criticize you for it. Video uses bandwidth you need for connecting to your company’s Web interface, a shared document, or a meeting.

Check the Speed You are Subscribed For

Your router might be able to transmit at a rate over 200 Mbps, but your connection to the Internet is limited by the service plan you’ve subscribed to. Average broadband speeds in 2015 were around 14 Mbps, and some people still have the plans they signed up for at that time. Average speeds today are closer to 100 Mbps. So talk to your ISP to make sure you have all the ‘power’ available ‘unlocked and available’ via your current plan.

It Might Be Time To Start All Over Again

It may just be time to stop looking for easy hacks and start building your network all over again. A newer router or a mesh kit will increase the range, reliability, and speed all over your home if your router is more than a couple of years old and is failing in more areas than not.

For average-size homes, standalone routers should be fine, while mesh kits are recommended when you need to cover a wider area or if Wi-Fi-blocking materials such as masonry or metal construction are used in your building.

If you’re working from home with kids home from school and learning remotely as well, your router may need to connect at the same time to dozens of devices. All those laptops, tablets, games consoles, printers, and streaming boxes will be connected to a secure network by a new router or mesh package. If you’re still using an 802.11 b / g / n router from the early 2010s, definitely consider a replacement.

Need help improving your home’s wireless networks to accommodate the ‘new normal’? Contact us today, we’ll be happy to help.

How to Better Secure Your Business During COVID-19 Shutdowns

Back in March, when businesses first closed their physical doors and sent their employees home to work remotely, most people thought it was a situation that would just last for a few weeks.

Fast-forward five months, and many California companies are still operating remotely and, if they are following Governor Newsom’s advice they will probably be doing so for the foreseeable future. Some California based businesses intend to keep their employees working remotely through the summer of 2021.

No doubt you have been focusing much of your energies on your company’s network structure so that everyone can keep working remotely efficiency. But what about those shuttered offices of yours? Are they secure? Eventually it’s likely you’ll need them again, along with everything they contain.

Now that you’ve realized that your offices are going to be closed for longer than expected, it’s time to really get serious about security. Here are some tips:

Evaluate Your Security Cameras (Or Install Some)

Maybe you have CCTV around your premises but it’s limited to ‘high risk’ areas like your parking lot. Maybe it was something you always meant to get around to but never quite did. Either way, now that your offices are empty 24/7 it’s crucial that you have a CCTV system in place that can keep a careful eye on it all day (and night) all the time. Both inside and out.

Once that’s done (and we can certainly help there) you also need to ensure that there is a proper chain of command when it comes to camera monitoring and responding to alerts. Even if you have a monitoring company in place they do need to know who to contact at any given time.

Consider Access Control

Maybe some people HAVE to go into the office at times. And they may be going at odd times of the day. Maybe you have to allow some contractors into your premises. Maybe your office IS open but you are trying to restrict who enters from the outside world for the protection of your staff.

Whatever the situation, installing an access control system may help not only better secure your premises but also help keep your employees healthy and give them greater peace of mind about returning to work.

Use Good Old Fashioned Common Sense

Technology like CCTV and access control system is a huge help when trying to keep your currently empty offices as secure as possible. But you also need to employ some good old-fashioned common sense, by keeping the following basic safety tips top of mind:

Remove anything, like posters, retail display racks and similar, from the windows as to not obstruct the view into your business for your security cameras or patrolling law enforcement.

Remove all cash and receipts. Don’t leave donation boxes on the front desk, cash boxes with “floats”, or safes at your business. Empty out cash registers and leave them open.

Remove client and staff personal information that could be stolen and used for identity theft.

Don’t leave any valuables visible or accessible. If you can’t securely store them out of sight on premises remove valuables from your office and take them home.

Remove all alcohol products from display and put the inventory in a locked storage area, or remove it from the premises.

Remove material around the exterior of the property, such as wood pallets, bricks, ladders, or metal poles, that may be used to gain entry.

To increase security, consider installing security film on accessible windows and glass doors to increase glass integrity from blunt force.

Need help securing your business with CCTV or access control? Contact us today to discuss what we can do to help keep your business safe while you and your staff are away.

How Will VOIP For Business Benefit My Company in 2020?

The single biggest reason why so many businesses are making the switch to VOIP these days is a very simple one – it costs less. But just how does it do that and how much can you save?

After all, your current traditional PBX system provider seems to have been offering some decent deals recently. But can those deals match VOIP? Maybe not. Here are some examples of what we mean.

Monthly Cost Savings

If you were to call a phone company about getting new traditional PSTN phone service for your business right now these days, they will probably give you a flat rate for your monthly service.

However, after the salesperson has finished giving you the big spiel they are required to add (probably in a much quieter voice) that the figure they have just quoted you does not include a number of mandatory fees.

The FCC lets phone companies charge you a monthly amount for the privilege of accessing their telephone lines and every phone company takes advantage of that fact. There are usually also line maintenance fees and international calls will cost extra as well. VOIP does not come with any of these charges attached.

Then there are the additional services. Usually, that flat monthly rate will not include services like call waiting, caller ID and conference calling and you can expect to pay quite a lot extra if you want a good voice mail service. All of these things have a straight cost in the case of most VOIP business services – 0 dollars.

Per Call Savings

The days of being charged extra for a call that is out of your local calling area by your local phone company are admittedly pretty much gone, most of them not offer and unlimited local and long distance calling plan for X dollars a month. But X dollars actually tends to be quite a lot, certainly more than the monthly fees that most VOIP providers charge.

Where traditional phone companies still make themselves quite a nice profit is on international calling. If you have a reason to call overseas, and because of the growing global nature of business in general, even small businesses that is likely, those charges can really rack up.

Many small business owners find themselves missing out on international opportunities just because the cost of talking with potential clients or customers is so prohibitive.

VOIP offers very low rates on international calls and many providers even offer a certain number of them free every month.

No More Taxes

If you have a look at your current phone bill you will notice you are charged a number of different taxes every month. It is actually not the phone company’s fault, the federal, state and local governments are the ones collecting that money. And you have to give them all their cut. VOIP providers are not mandated to charge those taxes so this too offers savings that will vary depending upon where your business is located but can be anything from a nice little bit of of extra change every month to a significant dollar amount.

No Repair Call Out Fees

If you have ever had to call your traditional phone company about a problem, you are having with your service you probably know the drill by now. Yes, they will send a technician out, but they cannot quite tell you when. Maybe sometime between 9 am and 5 pm tomorrow. Or the next day.

And if the problem turns out to be on your end, not theirs they will happily charge you a hefty fee for their technician’s time. And if you want a new phone line installed? That is really quite an undertaking both in terms of expense and time.

If you have a hosted VOIP service all of the equipment needed for your phones to function is located at your provider’s premises, not yours. Repairs are made there and there is no physical equipment at your business that needs to be maintained.

Should you opt for an in-house IP PBX that may require onsite repair and or maintenance, so that is something you should ensure you discuss with your VOIP company in advance. These fees are still usually less than a traditional phone company will charge you though and not high enough to put a VOIP system out of reach for almost any company.

VOIP and Remote Workers

The fact is that lots of companies are not even operating from their physical offices right now due to COVID-19 restrictions. But they are still operating, which means employees – and management – need to be able to field phone calls from their home office.

VOIP makes doing so a lot easier. No one has to venture into the office to forward phones. Calls can be routed anywhere in seconds, so if one of your employees has decided to ride out the pandemic in another state they can still get all their work done, and answer calls made to them. And if something does go wrong it can usually be remedied remotely, another big advantage for everyone.

To learn more about VOIP for Business for your company, contact us here.

Top Tips For the Best At Home VOD Movie Watching Experience

The COVID-19 pandemic has practically shut down the movie theater networks across the world. Some old-fashioned drive in theaters are thriving, but most standard movie theaters are either still closed or very empty, due to both limited capacity regulations and general consumer fears about sitting in such close quarters with a bunch of people when an airborne virus is still very much at large.

Movie studios have been left with two choices. Delay the opening of their films indefinitely, or make them available to the public at home, and as the pandemic continues more and more new films are getting the latter treatment.

This is great for consumers being asked to spend more time at home, but if you are going to pay up to $20 to watch a brand new, first run movie in your living room then you want the environment to be as conducive to doing so enjoyably as possible.

As the concept of the first run movie release to homes is unlikely to go away, even when the pandemic subsides, now is a great time to start thinking about creating an environment in your home that will make movie night in your living room/spare room/basement more like the real thing while also overcoming some of the difficulties you can face. when trying to stream such ‘heavy’ content.

Here are some tips and ideas to get you started.

Planning Better Seating

Relate screen size to seating distance when designing ‘home theater’ seating. Professional home theater installers advise a seating distance that is 2 to 2 1/2 times the width of a screen for optimal viewing. So, for example, if yours is a 48″ TV then seating should ideally placed around 90 inches away.

That’s a long way though – over seven feet – and some may simply not have that much room. A little closer is OK, just test drive the seating as you place it to ensure that everyone will have the best possible view.

Calibrate Your TV

Have you ever taken the time to properly calibrate your fancy big screen TV? As we explained here a while back, these settings can make a world of difference and can be hard achieve alone. That’s why if you are going to be watching ‘should have been in theaters’ movies often – and why not? – then investing in professional help to get your TV calibrated properly will be a worthwhile investment.

Work On the Sound

One of the great things about watching movies in a theater is the sound. The good news is that it’s getting easier and easier to recreate that audio experience at home. Great home speakers are getting smaller – without losing ‘power’ – and sleek soundbars are becoming more efficient and effective too.

These things are far more affordable these days too, but again, for the best possible results call in a pro to help you get the most out of these purchases.

Prevent Overheating

Ideally you should place speakers in a ventilated cabinet or on roomy shelves so components don’t overheat; be careful not to block the vents on the equipment.

For easy access to the backs of the electronic components, construct the shelving or cabinet units 4 to 5 feet in front of the wall to create a narrow “hallway” behind the units.

Light the Space Better

Lighting is also an important factor in ‘home theater planning’. In a room with windows, be sure to have adequate light-blocking shades so the midday sun doesn’t disturb your viewing.

Ambient, or overall, lighting on dimmer switches gives you control over how much light is emitted. Task lighting in the form of table lamps or wall sconces is useful for viewers who are multitasking while they watch TV (ie on their phones, something that’s banned in theaters, but may be OK in your home.)

The Top 5 Reasons Why More Businesses Are Switching to Fiber Optic Cable

The digital element of a huge number of businesses operating in all kinds of niches continues to experience tremendous growth. And while that growth may be great for both a customer or client’s experience with a company, and for that company’s bottom line it can place huge stresses on the cabling systems that keep a business computing network up and running.

The simple fact is that having the right cabling can make a huge difference when it comes to bandwidth, voice, data, multimedia, and many other aspects of your business.

While there are a number of different cabling options in the marketplace, here are five reasons why more companies are investing in fiber optics.

Faster Speeds and More Bandwidth

Copper wiring was originally created with only voice communication in mind. Because of its original intended usage, its bandwidth offerings are limited and it will struggle to keep up with the demands that all your other needs are placing on it.

Because it’s a technology designed for multi-media use fiber optic cables increase your bandwidth potential at rates that were previously unprecedented in the industry.

You’ll also see an increase in speed when you switch to fiber, and that can make a huge difference for both your company and in many cases your customers

Reliability

Extreme weather seems to be everywhere these days and that can lead to costly outages. Fiber optic cabling is safe from extreme weather conditions because electricity is not actually being sent through the wiring.

When you choose fiber optics, you remain unaffected by the elements that often adversely affect the performance of copper wiring leading to the kind of downtime you really can’t afford.

Size

Perhaps the most practical advantage of fiber cabling is its size. You no longer have to compromise quality for size. The speed of copper wiring is directly related to its size. Ultimately this creates a higher cost of resources.

The size of a fiber cable does not impact speed at which it performs. Choosing fiber means using fewer resources and saving more money without product compromise. The size advantage makes transportation, installation, and usage easier and more effective.

Security

Cybersecurity and safety have become everyday concerns with the constant threat of data breaches and identity theft potentially just a few clicks of a hacker’s mouse away.

Tapping into fiber cabling is not just more complex but more expensive than hacking into traditional copper or electrical wiring which is a significant deterrent to data breaches.

Price

Fiber’s durability, functionality, and lack of commonly required maintenance make it more cost-effective in the long run and ultimately provides a better consumer experience.

Thinking of making the switch to fiber optics but have more questions or concerns? Call us at 800-730-3468 or contact us here and we will be happy to discuss them with you.

3 Ways To Increase Network Security in a Post COVID 19 World

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an environment in which hackers and other malicious cyber actors are gleefully thriving. They are exploiting all the current uncertainty and anxiety via ransomware attacks, phishing campaigns, social engineering and financially-motivated scams. Although we are living in unprecedented times, the cyber threats we face and the malicious actors are not new. But the singular focus on COVID-19 may make many organizations – and individuals – the proverbial fish in a barrel for cyber bad guys.

These attackers understand and target our current thirst for information to help us navigate this pandemic. A sudden, intense focus on specific topics such as local coronavirus case data or where to find face masks makes it easier than ever for bad actors to design a phishing email, scam, or other attack.

At the same time, organizations scramble to adopt remote-working best practices as employees move en masse from working inside a traditional office to remote environments practically overnight.

Companies now, for the most part, understand that cyber security threats are common, and have often done the right thing and taken measures to prevent them affecting their business communications and their business itself.

But they now need to adapt their defenses to the current environment of uncertainty and social distancing. Here are three of the most important things that need to be considered.

Adapt Your Ransomware Response Playbooks

In today’s threat landscape, you can’t just focus on preventing ransomware attacks; they must also have a robust strategy for how to react to such attacks. In addition, organizations should adapt their ransomware response playbooks for the current remote working environment.

For example, in the event of an attack, convening an organization’s key decision-makers in one room to strategize on response is not likely to be an option. Simple measures such as compiling the contact information and backup phone numbers for key decision-makers can go a long way.

Ransomware response playbooks should also outline topics such as whether or not the organization would pay the proposed ransom or seek outside help first, the legal teams the organization will work with for counsel and mitigation, and considerations for engaging with legal counsel other key players remotely.

Consider Network Visibility and Secure Devices

Most likely, very few organizations had plans to shift from in-office work to most staff working remotely in a matter of days. Network monitoring protocols that works in a traditional office setting may leave you in the dark in a remote working reality. A foundational step in understanding the risk profile is to first understand the network visibility available and adjust enterprise protocols as necessary to protect in today’s environment.

Another key tool at the disposal of managers is the trusted network list. In these unprecedented times, reducing the number of trusted networks and restricting user access can prevent credential attacks and keep your networks safer.

Maintain Employee Engagement

The coronavirus pandemic has already caused big swings in global markets, with a possibility of the steepest economic downturn since the Great Depression, according to the International Monetary Fund. Given the current financial volatility, we have already seen layoffs, furloughs and reductions in work hours, with other difficult decisions ahead.

In this uncertain time, critical in these times of increased emotional and economic stress that can lead to increased insider threats – intentional or otherwise. In addition to internal communications plans, you do need to consider the possibility of insider attacks.

This means ensuring that employees who are no longer working with you have their access to your networks terminated and that current employees are aware of security best practices while working from home. But do not expect them to go it alone.

Make arrangements for a remote re-training session on the basics and if they need new or updated hardware or software to do their jobs properly – everything perhaps from a new antivirus program to a better router – it really is your responsibility as an employer to provide it.

Using Access Control To Fight the Spread of COVID-19

Workplace managers across the globe, and certainly here in California, are starting to try to figure out how they can safely reopen their businesses as COVID-19 lockdowns ease, and they are being encouraged to get their employees back to work.

One of the biggest challenges is how to implement best practices preventing the entry of possibly COVID-19 infected individuals into their offices. While they can keep an eye on their own employees via things like temperature checks and access to testing it’s much harder to tell whether visitors may have been exposed to COVID-19, and are therefore perhaps putting those employees at risk. Masks help, but we all know that they are far from a perfect solution.

While access control security is generally the first line of defense in preventing unwanted human entry, until biometric sensors are sophisticated enough to perform instant disease detection, it’s not an option for preventing virus invasion. However, when integrated with identity management and visitor management systems, today’s access control can play a significant role in reducing the spread of contagion.

A Reminder of the Basics

The most obvious preventative practices are simply urging employees to wash their hands often with soap and water and simply emphasizing that employees stay home when sick, notifying the office if they do contract the virus.

But even if an employee or recent office visitor contracted the virus and followed the self-isolation advice of the CDC, an office manager would still want to know when these now-infected individuals last entered the premises, where they traveled inside and potentially who they met. The ability to effectively trace their presence and identify other occupants who potentially crossed their path provides a whole new level of digital forensics to aid prevention.

Integrating Access and Identity

This is where an integrated system of access control, visitor management and identity management could save time and potentially lives by providing HR and office managers with an accurate of record access for individuals in a workplace over a specific period.

Identity management serves as the authoritative source where an organization stores its employee information including network authentication, authorization, roles and privileges across a system or enterprise with the goal of increasing security typically under the IT or Cybersecurity umbrella (think login credentials, tools & database access).

When access control and credentials are integrated with identity management, the combined system records a history of the physical presence for any specific employee. On any given day, you can know if an individual entered a building, an elevator, a specific floor, even a particular room with enough reader placement.

Tracking Contagion Path

This is powerful data for an office or property manager to quickly identify other occupants who may have been exposed so, while respecting confidentiality, they can be instructed to get medical testing and stay at home. For an enterprise organization, integrated identity management and physical security can even scale across multiple buildings, states or regions to trace an individual’s steps within a building portfolio.

If access control is integrated with a visitor management system, the same tracking capability can be used for a visitor or outside consultant granted temporary access to the workplace for a one-time meeting or short project assignment.

The visitor is given a bar-coded “credential” tied to their contact information for entering approved spaces during pre-set time periods. This extends the data-based forensic capabilities beyond the employee base to all individuals accessing the premises.

While we may never see a day when a physical security system can identify and prevent the entry of a person carrying an infectious disease, we can use currently available smart technology to help reduce the risk of spread.

This is one very real, very current example where connecting HR / IT systems with physical security is advantageous, but there are many more use cases where the value is clear.

Leading access control providers like Data Installers, manage physical security for commercial properties, offices and multi-family buildings across our service area, and can help you create a system like the one we just described. Get in touch with us today to learn more.

Avoiding Communication Fatigue in the Coronavirus Remote Workplace

Many employees at companies across the country are now working from home during the coronavirus outbreak. For many employees, this is their first experience with remote work, telework, video conferencing, etc. And it’s everyone’s first experience with the new concept of social distancing. Combined, these factors are changing our communication habits.

As is the case for any change, people need time to adjust. Freelancers are used to working from home, but for people used to sitting at a desk, in an office, surrounded by people, it’s strange to say the least.

But as many of us gather the essentials, create temporary home offices and discover the delights – and frustrations – of using webcam services like Zoom, we also have to prepare mentally for the resulting change in interpersonal communication.

We might start to miss watercooler conversations, front-desk small talk or going to lunch with co-workers — forms of communication that help define workplace culture and even our social identity.

As people adjust to working remotely and communicating with colleagues solely online during the coronavirus outbreak, they need distinguish between essential and nonessential communications.

We can make up for missed small talk by calling co-workers to check in, or by forming online groups through Facebook, Slack and other micro-chatting platforms. We might start by discussing an essential work item but end up talking about personal stuff, just like we do at the office.

In times of crisis, the need to communicate can feel like an ongoing and sometimes even annoying requirement. Everyone wants to offer breaking news.

Suddenly half your friends on Facebook have become amateur infectious disease specialists. Your local grocery store issues updates about what’s in stock and their new social distancing policies at least every few days.

On the work front colleagues want to share information quickly and broadly. Meanwhile, the boss has planned three video conferences and two individual check-in meetings.

But too much communication can defeat its own purpose by overloading people and lead to them tuning out the messages. Here are four ways to avoid communication fatigue while working from home:

Share crucial information.

Those in marketing are already aware of the concept of “communication fatigue.” The same principle applies to all forms of communication: The more frequently that we communicate to an audience, the less valuable our communication becomes.

An audience’s fatigue will likely be worsened when we communicate nonessential, one-way information. Brands that overcommunicate with customers end up losing their attention and interest, which is a major reason why consumers unsubscribe to brand emails. The same holds true for internal communications.

While sharing crucial information about the coronavirus crisis might seem like a no-brainer for managers, the consequences of over communicating can be counterintuitive.

Let’s say a CEO sends out a company-wide email containing new, critical information. It is forwarded to managers, who, in turn, forward the email to their departments. Leaders in those departments then forward it to their own teams.

By the end, some employees have seen the same email four or five times. They become desensitized to this overcommunication and start deleting redundant emails.

But what if an important email gets deleted because its sender has become an overcommunicator and branded by recipients as nonessential? How can middle managers bypass the email traffic jam and make sure that people read their messages?

Consider the frequency.

Before sending another email about the coronavirus and its effects on your business, consider how many times you have already emailed the same people on the same topic and how often they have responded. To avoid communication fatigue, multiple updates should be consolidated into a single email whenever possible.

It might be better to send a text message if someone can answer a question with a simple “yes” or “no.” If you have several questions, then combine them into a single email.

Add value to your message.

You also need to think about the value of what you intend to communicate. If an email doesn’t provide anything new or timely, perhaps you should not send it.

Diversify communication channels.

Communicating solely through email can be monotonous. As people work from home during the coronavirus outbreak, they might prefer to use apps such Slack or Google Talk for short, more immediate communication.

If you need to brainstorm or gather more information, then make a phone call. For personal, sensitive or emotional topics, try a video-conferencing service that lets you see people’s facial expressions, body language and gestures.

Using tools like Apple FaceTime, Zoom and Google Meet can also add a more personal touch than just sending an email. And as remote work and social distancing move us further apart during the coronavirus outbreak, a personal touch might be just what we need.

Buying Your Dream Big Screen TV? Important Things to Consider Before You Do

You’ve found it. The TV of your dreams. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s 4K – or maybe even 5K. The picture is beautiful and the sound is spectacular. It does ‘smart things’, is splendidly streamlined and the price is not giving you as much of a panic attack as you might have imagined when you set out on this particular shopping expedition.

All of these things are observations you are making in the showroom or on the store floor though. Where the TV you are so in awe of has been perfectly set up to attract as much attention as possible. But will it really work in your home? Here are some things to think about before you eagerly hand over your credit card to that lurking store clerk.

Where Will It Fit?

Big TVs have been ‘in’ for years now and they probably aren’t getting any smaller any time soon. The idea of having a big screen in your living room is, for most of us, a very appealing one.

Thanks to both streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime and the speed at which big movies are transplanted from movie theaters to DVD these days watching a big blockbuster flick not too long after its debut is perfectly possible and it’s often much nicer – and cheaper- to snuggle down on your own sofa with a bowl of freshly popped homemade popcorn rather than deal with all the annoyances of a trip to the movie theater.

Many of us have been happy that we had that luxury during the COVID-19 lockdowns., and so may be inspired to make our home entertainment set up even better, in case it happens again.

One potential downside to a big TV though is where to put it. When you are admiring that 60″ stunner in the store do remember that that measurement refers to the the size of the screen measured diagonally, not to the dimensions of the TV itself. In some cases the housing can add several inches on either size, as well as a tangle of wires.

So, it may be that you have to find 70″ worth of space in your living room. That’s over five feet. Where do you have five feet’s worth of space in the room? What will need to be moved in order to accommodate the TV safely?

One popular option though is the mount the TV to a wall. That way it does not ‘steal’ any floor space and, with some thought, can look super stylish, especially as it’s a great way to ‘hide’ all of those unsightly cords. Another is to house it in a built-in, although that does involve more fuss and expense.

Can You Set it Up Properly?

The literature for the TV says it’s ‘easy set up’. But all too often people find that when they get home and turn everything on it’s more complicated than it seems.

Which is the right setting for the picture? Which of the multiple sound options will reproduce that lovely sound that seduced them in the showroom. It’s often confusing, and frustrating, trying to get the right balance. And then there are all of those ports. Which one should the PS4 go in? And the Roku? And the DVD player? And how do you make it all work together? The instruction booklet has some pictures, but they aren’t much help.

Investing in Some Professional Help

For all of these reasons and more, when you get around to investing in your dream TV you should consider budgeting in professional installation like the service we offer at Data Installers as well.

If you want to mount your TV to the wall you need to ensure it’s going to stay there, and a pro really is the best person for that job. In addition, once your TV is installed, securely, where you want it, you can sit back and let the expert do all of that programming and wiring up for you, ensuring that the TV that you just made that big investment in does exactly what you paid for it to do; bring your hours and hours of hassle free enjoyment and entertainment for years to come.

Zoom Alternatives Worth Your Consideration

Zoom has risen to the top as one of the most used video call apps as the coronavirus has spread around the globe. And for good reason.

Zoom is cross-platform, free, and easy to set up calls for businesses and well as individuals. However, it has some serious security and privacy flaws. These are being worked on, but with even the FBI involved, some people are understandably nervous about using it.

For those looking for some good Zoom alternatives here is a look at some of the best of them.

FaceTime

FaceTime offers a great experience and full , very secure end-to-end encryption but unfortunately, it’s limited to Apple devices.

So while FaceTime is a preferred option for small group calls between all Apple users, it can’t deliver as a viable solution for business calls or even larger calls between friends and family.

However, as a more intimate way to check in with team members individually if you are both iOS users this can be a great way for managers to stay in touch on a personal level, something that is important right now, for both productivity and employee motivation.

Skype & Microsoft Teams

If you’re looking for a solid alternative to for calls up to 50 people, Skype is a nice cross-platform option. It’s free, has a much better track record than Zoom for security and privacy, and is owned by Microsoft.

Skype also allows for screen sharing and other handy features like screen recording. You can find download links for pretty much any device here.

If you need a more business-focused solution that integrates more than just chat, Microsoft Teams is a viable option.

Here you’ll get chat, video calls, and integration of Microsoft’s other software products to collaborate. Naturally, this is most conducive for businesses who are already using other Microsoft software products like Office 365.

Microsoft Teams starts from $5/month per user. Check out more details on Microsoft’s website.

Google Hangouts Meet

If you’re a business that’s invested in Google’s software, Hangouts Meet is the alternative to Zoom or Microsoft Teams you’ll want to check out.

Notably, Google made a change due to the global pandemic that gives all G Suite users the premium version of Hangouts Meet for free:

Starting this week, we will begin rolling out free access to our advanced Hangouts Meet video-conferencing capabilities to all G Suite and G Suite for Education customers globally including:

  • Larger meetings, for up to 250 participants per call
  • Live streaming for up to 100,000 viewers within a domain
  • The ability to record meetings and save them to Google Drive

Outside the free temporary upgrade, Hangouts Meet for businesses and organization is including with G Suite plans which run from $6/month per user.

Cisco Webex, TeamViewer, GoToMeeting, open-sourced Jitsi, and More

These options would be more comparable to Zoom as they are independent of software suites from Google or Microsoft.

Cisco Webex and TeamViewer offer free personal accounts, while GoToMeeting just offers paid plans for businesses.

Notably, Cisco Webex just upgraded its free tier and is doing two more deals for paid plans:

  • Upgraded Free plan
  • First month free when you sign up for a paid monthly plan
  • Four months free when purchasing an annual plan

More options

Some other options from smaller developers that could be worth checking out include:

Have another good Zoom alternative that we didn’t mention? Let us know about it in the comments, we are also looking to learn!

Overcoming Slow Internet Issues During the COVID-19 Lockdown

With working from home, and staying at home in general quickly becoming a (temporary we hope) way of life for many people, an increased number of us are relying on the Internet for work, education and entertainment.

The emphasis here is on the increased part. In many households not only are there adults working but students taking classes and, when not occupied thus gaming with friends or chatting via one of the many messenger services. Lots of us are indulging in the odd Netflix/Hulu/ Amazon Prime binge as well.

All of this adds up to place greater demand on our Wi-Fi network infrastructure, reducing the bandwidth available for each user, and is leaving people frustrated at seemingly slow internet speeds and other annoying Internet issues.

While internet service providers may not be able to instantly respond to these changes, there are a few tricks you can use to boost your home internet’s speed and keep everyone connected and productive (even if they are only watching Tiger King right now.)

Why is your internet slow?

There may be lots of reasons why your Internet speeds are slow right now. Internet use requires a reliable connection between your device and the destination, which may be a server that is physically located on the other side of the world.

Did you try turning your router off and on again? Yes, cliched advice, but it’s worth a shot. Tip: make sure it’s turned off for at least ten seconds.

Your connection to that server may also be passing through hundreds of devices on its journey. Each one of these is a potential failure, or weak point. If one point along this path isn’t functioning optimally, this can significantly affect your internet experience.

If you are continually having problems trying to connect via a VPN service may route your Internet signal through channels that are not so busy.

Web servers in particular are often affected by external factors, including Denial of Service (DOS) attacks, wherein an overload of traffic causes congestion in the server, and impedes proper functioning. And believe it or not, even with all that’s going on the world right now the hackers are still out there (and as the human ones are probably bored too may be more active than ever)

While you may not have control over these things from your home network, that doesn’t mean you don’t have options to improve your internet speed and solve some Internet issues. Here are some suggestions:

Wi-Fi signal boost

The access point (wireless router) in your home network is used to connect your devices to your internet service provider. Most access points provide a wireless signal with a limited number of channels, which can lead to slowing interference from nearby signals, like your neighbor’s. A “channel” is a kind of virtual “pipe” through which data is transferred.

Although your devices are designed to avoid interference by switching channels automatically (there are usually 14 available), it may help to check your router settings, as some are set to a single channel by default, especially older ones.

When trying different options to reduce interference, try to select channels 1, 6 or 11 as they can help to minimize problems (for 2.4GHz wireless).

What else can you do?

There are a few more things you can try to improve your Wi-Fi signal. If your router supports 5GHz Wi-Fi signals, switching to this can provide a faster data rate, but over shorter distances. Reposition your router for best coverage (usually a central position).

The difference between 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi signals is they have different data transmission speeds. While 5GHz can transfer data faster (with 23 available channels), 2.4GHz provides a wider range. If you want speed, go for 5GHz. For better coverage, choose 2.4GHz.

Some domestic appliances can cause interference with your router. It’s worth checking if using your microwave oven, cordless phone or baby monitor affects your connection, as they may be using the same frequency as your router.

Using a Wi-Fi extender can help with coverage by boosting or extending the signal.

Viruses and malware

To avoid computer viruses, make sure you regularly check for updates on your devices and use antivirus software. It’s also worth rebooting your router to clear specific malware (malicious software designed to damage your device or server), such as VPNFilter – a malware that infects more than half a million routers in more than 50 countries.

You should also check the following:

Does your router need to be replaced with a newer model? This may be the case if it has been used for many years. Newer models support enhanced functions and faster internet speeds and are still available for purchase – and fast shipping – from the likes of Amazon and Best Buy. You can also contact us for specific recommendations and assistance, we’ll be happy to help.

Is the firmware of your wireless router updated? You can do this by visiting the device manufacturer’s website. This will help fix problems and might allow additional functionality. It’s unlikely this update is done automatically and most of us really don’t usually have the time to check such things.

Planning your Internet usage

If multiple people are streaming video at your home, and in your neighborhood in general, which often requires ten times the daytime demand, a limited internet connection will soon be fully used up

Try to plan you and family members’ online activities around peak times. Before the pandemic hit, most home internet usage was oriented around the early evenings, after close of business.

With the shift to mass remote working and schooling, the demand for Internet access is likely much higher than usual.

Outside your home, connectivity is likely to be on a “best effort” plan, which shares a fixed bandwidth with other users. In other words, your Internet bandwidth is shared with others in your area when they access the internet at the same time. A shared bandwidth results in slower individual speeds.

You can’t control how many people access the internet, but you can manage your own internet activity by downloading large files or content overnight, or outside of peak hours (when there is less traffic).

How to improve your ISP’s network issues

While you can try to fix internet issues and optimize the setup inside your home, unfortunately you can’t really influence network performance outside it. Thus, contacting your Internet service provider and seeking support is your best option.

Be prepared, however, for the fact that they may be working with fewer staff and if a technician is needed while most companies do still have techs working they are unusually busy.

All the above considered, it’s important to remember that when using the Internet at home, we’re sharing a limited resource. Just like buying pasta or toilet paper, there are lots of people who need it just as much as you, so use it wisely.

Great Gadgets For New Remote Workers

Some people have found that they can work for hours on end at home without too many problems. However, for other people who are just now starting out with working from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, working in their new remote home office can be a significant adjustment.

Your kids are yelling in the other room. You can barely hear your employees on the conference call because of poor sound quality. To top it all off, you don’t have one chair in the house that’s comfortable enough to work in.

We hear you—working remotely has its benefits, but it also has many challenges. Because there’s no telling how long the coronavirus will keep us working from home, we’ve compiled a list of the best gadgets to improve productivity and make working remotely easier.

Standing Desk Converter

A standing desk may sound like a costly investment. Plus, if you already have a desk, you might not think you have enough room for it. Instead of buying a whole standing desk, look for desk converters, which you can place on top of any existing desk to make standing an option.

A standing desk converter is ideal if you aren’t sure whether you want to stand full-time. You don’t have to commit to using it for 8 hours a day. Instead, you can stand to stretch during a conference call or in the middle of your afternoon slump. Then, return to sitting when you need a break.

On the low end, you can find standing desk converters for under $50, while some nicer ones can cost between $100 and $250.

Noise-Cancelling Headphones

If you have to contend with loud neighbors, bored children, or unwanted outside noise, consider investing in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. You’ll likely find yourself using these headphones beyond the home office.

Quality noise-canceling headphones can be a sound investment for frequent travelers, fitness junkies, or anyone who wants to drown outside static for a personal concert.

You can also invest in a headphone-microphone set if you want something that can pick up your voice while cutting out background noise. This equipment is essential for people in sales positions or employees who want to sound professional even when they are home. It is hard to listen to a sales pitch if the presenter’s voice cuts out or gets overshadowed by a screaming child or barking dog.

On the low-end, you can get a pair of headphones for under $50 that will get you through the pandemic. However, if you see yourself working remotely more frequently and want this purchase to be an investment, you can buy a quality pair for $350 or more.

Lumbar Support Cushions

The wrong chair can cause back pain, headaches, posture problems, and other issues that last long after you clock out for the day. If you are working at the kitchen table during the pandemic or in a makeshift office, order a lumbar cushion or other office chair support system. You may even want to order an office chair that you can use if you need to work from home again.

You can find a number of lumbar support cushions for sale online between $20 and $50.

Wi-Fi Extender

If you and your significant other are both working from home, you may try to work in different areas of the house to prevent distractions. Similarly, your kids might need to use the internet in another spot to do their schoolwork. Your Wi-Fi may not be able to extend throughout the house and keep everyone’s gadgets running equally.

If one part of the house has slower Wi-Fi than the rest, get a Wi-Fi extender or booster. This device can give your wireless connection the extra life it needs so everyone can log on wherever they are.

If you’re looking for a simple Wi-Fi extender, you can expect to pay between $20 and $40, but if you want to cover the entire house, you might want to consider a mesh system that can be upward of $200 or more but is far more efficient and the investment won’t be a waste.

More and more things in the home call for Internet access – home assistants like Alexa, streaming gaming platforms like Google Stadia, smart gadgets and much more – so better WiFi will never be a bad thing.

Desk Scanner

When you work remotely, it’s not easy to run a few papers over to a co-worker or ask your boss for a signature. Fortunately, a desk scanner can help you quickly scan papers and send them to your team members so they have the content they need. If you want to go paperless in your remote office, a desk scanner is a good place to begin your transition.

These scanners don’t take up as much space as you would think. This option is ideal if you have a limited room and don’t want to buy bulky office equipment just for the pandemic. Plus, you can pick a scanner up for less than $40 at Staples or Office Depot.

If you are looking for a more advanced desk scanner, their prices range from above $100 to almost $300.

Find What Works for You

You don’t need to buy all of these gadgets to work from home successfully. Instead, identify a few problems you have and see if any of these options can solve them. For example, if you have a hard time hearing webinars and speaking up during conference calls, then a more advanced headset and microphone could significantly improve your productivity.

Need help with your WiFi or Internet connectivity problems? Contact us, we’ll be happy to help determine your options for improvement in your home.

Strategies for Keeping Confidential Information Safe – Even When Working From Home

For many businesses large and small maintaining the integrity of confidential data is a must.

In some cases they are strictly legally mandated to do so – the healthcare industry springs immediately to mind here – and in others while the actual ‘rules’ might be a bit of a gray area the ‘leak’ of confidential information often spells disaster.

With many employees working from home right now due to COVID-19 restrictions this data security is an even bigger issue

To help prevent this an increasing number of companies are quite sensibly making a deliberate effort to ‘beef up security ‘ around such information, by making use of innovations like two factor authentication, biometric identification and other data access protections.

What many do forget though is that most businesses have one more potential data security threat that needs to be addressed; the employees that access it. And given that many are ‘out of sight’ right now, aside from the occasional Zoom check in, the issue is one that has to be addressed.

Although there have been cases of confidential information being compromised deliberately by disgruntled employees most such breaches are unintentional.

That having been said they can still be very harmful. With this in mind here are three actionable steps you can take to help prevent the integrity of your confidential data being accidentally sabotaged by your employees.

Focus on Proper Training

According to an Infowatch report, 66% of the data leaks the logged were the result of an internal, rather than external breach. Further research however determined that over 40% of those leaks could be attributed to a simple lack of training on the part of the people responsible.

To address this businesses need to ensure that every employee understands what confidential data they are actually handling to prevent accidental disclosure.

This training should constitute more than just a few pages in an employee handbook that may never be read or a company wide email that may get lost in an overstuffed inbox.

A formal Zoom based training session – or sessions – is a far more effective way to try to ensure that everyone gets the message who needs to, and occasional testing may even be a good idea, especially in healthcare or customer service settings where a data breach can have serious legal ramifications for the business.

Emphasize Email Encryption

Insecure emails were a big topic of conversation last year in the run up to the Presidential election, but although there is no doubt that most people noted the issue a recent Echoworx study found that only 40% of companies were making use of email encryption to safeguard confidential data. For those businesses that do not that leaves a big hole in the security of their confidential information.

The fact is that once your team has been properly educated about just what confidential information means, this is a step should come naturally, just ensuring that employees know to – and have the ability to – encrypt any email they send that contains sensitive data. There are a number of tools available to do this and most of them are easy to implement and not particularly expensive either.

Make Security Easier

The easier a set of information protection protocols is the more likely it is they will be adhered to, so ensuring that whatever precautions are put in place are user friendly is another must.

One way to determine this is simply to ask for feedback from the employees being asked to use them. Are they still having trouble even after a formal training session? Are the tools slowing them down? If so it may be time to look at a different solution that better takes user experience into account.

Need help finding data management solutions? Contact us, we’ll be happy to help.

Dealing with Employee Concerns About CCTV in the Workplace

It’s far from unusual these days for companies to install CCTV systems both inside and outside their premises. Thanks to huge advances in CCTV technology over the last decade or so, doing so has become both easier and more affordable. But there is one aspect of making such a move that often causes employers great concern as they consider doing so; what their employees will think.

Why Employees Balk at Video Surveillance

In many ways CCTV is becoming a part of everyday life. You expect that when you go to the gas station, the supermarket and even when you use an ATM you are being videotaped.

In communities around the country city and town officials are following the European lead and adding CCTV surveillance to parks, community centers and even to the streets in general. There are many legitimate, sensible and valid reasons for doing so and most people understand that. But when it comes to being monitored at work? This is where some people begin to ‘draw the line’.

Some of people’s fears about video surveillance at work are, unfortunately, fueled by the popular media. There have been a number of stories about employers who overstepped the mark and used their CCTV system in unethical and sometimes criminal ways. Such things are actually rather uncommon, but the media does not always portray this.

Another big reason that some employees dislike the idea of being monitored while they work is a feeling that by doing so their employer is indicating that they believe that their workforce is untrustworthy, something that admittedly can be an unpleasant thought for a loyal, hardworking person who feels like they give the company their all.

And finally there is a simple, basic dislike of being ‘spied on’. Some people feel that this will add additional pressure on them to ‘perform’ in a certain way and others simply don’t like being watched.

Talking to Your Employees about CCTV

The best way to deal with these possible concerns is to face them head on before the installation company arrives to get to work. By calling a meeting – preferably a somewhat informal and relaxed one, maybe over breakfast or lunch, and opening up a sensible conversation about CCTV in the workplace will often help allay employee fears and concerns.

Take the time to point out all of the positives of the idea. CCTV footage can be used to resolve disputes, to deter visitors to the premises from behaving inappropriately and, especially in the case of outdoor cameras trained on a parking lot, help keep employees safer. After all, it’s not exactly uncommon for you to feel a little nervous walking to your car at the end of the day, even if you are at a place as familiar as your company parking lot.

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