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Work/life balance isn’t just about wellness: Here’s how data systems are an integral part of the puzzle.

The work/life balance used to be primarily about wellness benefits – what sort of health perks to offer at work, how to encourage people to take time off, and more. But now that the concept of a work/life balance has become more integrated into company strategies, we’re seeing that a surprisingly important part of the balance is the data systems that you and your company use: IT is an integral part of your wellness strategy! Here are the top ways that new data solutions and applications can impact your current workspace in stress-reducing ways.

1. Setting Personal Goals

Personal goals are surprisingly important for work/life balance and has become a common piece of advice for busy professionals who are looking at ways to reduce their stress and help clear up their schedules. While it may seem odd to write down more goals as a way of relieving stress, it certainly appears to work: Writing new goals, especially at night, allows you to get rid of worries you’ve accumulated throughout the day, and often leads to be better sleep and more confident morning preparations. Of course taking time to write a few goals every night can get tiresome, which is where technology steps in to help. Why not use an app like Microsoft To-Do that makes goal-creation and lists easy while also tying into Outlook and other common business software? List apps and calendars aren’t just there for organization, they also play an important role in stress relief.

2. Locking Away Distractions

A few years ago a new category of apps gained a lot of popularity – apps that blocked distractions from people who really needed to get work done instead of surfing Facebook for the 15^th time or composing the perfect message on Reddit. These anti-distraction apps still have a place, and are now quite versatile, allowing you to add a surprising amount of productive time to your day – and isn’t that what everyone wants? Incorporate smart, selective blocking at work (which most modern companies need to be doing anyway, and not just with the X-rated content), and you can also see productivity rise among your employees. It’s also easy to find more personal, customizable apps for limiting time spent on specific sites based on your own habits.

3. Automating Email Replies to Reduce Stress

Even the simplest email clients available these days offer automation features, from Gmail’s mobile ability to create short automatic responses to categorization options that allow you to apply complex filters based on sender or subject. We highly advise you to take advantage of these tools and make them a common part of the workplace. One of the common work stressors is a long list of unanswered emails: It’s a feeling everyone hates, and it frequently leads to avoiding your inbox or ignoring emails for far too long, both at work and at home. Bringing in some automated tools and voice assistants like Cortana can make a huge difference when dealing with busy email inboxes.

4. Remote Work and Scheduling Options

Remote work and flexible scheduling have been vital parts of work/life strategies, allowing employees to plan their work life around the immovable parts of their personal lives, leading to a lot less worry and a lot more flexible thinking when completing projects. Data systems are one of the most important tools available for making flexible and remote work options available to employees. It just isn’t possible to easily schedule and reschedule or monitor teams no matter where they are working from without modern management software (Microsoft Teams is currently one of the top examples).

5. Digital Spaces for Workplace Fulfillment

It is understandable – and productive – if you block something like Facebook at the workplace. But that doesn’t mean employees cannot benefit from a social space: Indeed, a shared digital space can be very valuable when it comes to quick discussions, feeling like part of the company community, and keeping interested in the latest news and developments. We suggest adopting a company social space like Yammer so that employees understand their connection to the company and adopt better workplace relationships.

6. Reminders for Breaks, Meals, and Healthy Living

Speaking of scheduling and communication systems, it’s also a good idea to update these systems with broad types of company reminders. Those 10-15 minute breaks, lunches, and health benefits work a lot better if you move them from orientation into the workplace itself with a set of wellness alerts to remind employees to, well, take a break. Many of the tools we have already talked about all you to set up these types of alerts.

7. Metrics that Encourage Goal-Oriented Work

What do your current metrics study? If they focus primarily on hours and overtime worked, then you may want to rethink your goals. A number of companies are beginning to move more to a results-focused model that seeks to measure how much work employees are actually accomplishing rather than how much time they are spending at work – time that may or may not be spent working. The rise of the gig economy has helped this trend a lot, and it’s a great way for companies to check on productivity while also ensuring that employees are rewarded for completing goals and have the flexibility they need at work.

8. Automated Management of Benefits

Wellness perks can provide real help to employees – if employees know they exist, and how they work. If it’s been a while since HR has updated benefit systems, then some of the best wellness benefits may be languishing because people don’t really know how they work, how to sign up, or how it will affect their workflow. Data systems can easily automate and provide quick web forms, alerts, and other features for benefits including maternity leave, childcare, time off, yoga classes, and much more. Take advantage of technology!

Of course, your Omaha workplace also has unique work/life balance challenges and goals. To find out more about what services InfiNet Solutions offers and how we can help you, contact us at (402) 895--5777 or [email protected] to discuss our services.

Reports have begun to pour in regarding a new ransomware infection currently wreaking havoc in Russia, Ukraine, France, Spain, and several other countries. This highly sophisticated Russian strain is known as Petya or Petrwrap, and it has been advancing on a scale comparable to the recent WannaCry ransomware infection. However, unlike WannaCry, this strain lacks both the errors WannaCry contained as well as lacking a kill-switch.

A wide range of businesses have reported being hit with this infection, with victims receiving the following message: “If you see this text, then your files are no longer accessible because they are encrypted. Perhaps you are busy looking for a way to recover your files, but don’t waste your time. Nobody can recover your files without our decryption service.” Sources state that the message appears as red text on a black background, and demands $300 worth of bitcoin in exchange for the decryption key.

While it has not been completely confirmed as of yet, Petya/Petrwrap looks to be taking advantage of the EternalBlue exploit, which was leaked by a group known as The Shadow Brokers. If EternalBlue sounds familiar to you, it should – it’s the same exploit WannaCry took advantage of.

If you haven’t already, you should be taking steps to protect your business against this exploit by installing the MS17-010 security update from Windows (which you can find here) and checking to see that your systems are fully patched. Like WannaCry, Petya/Petrwrap has the ability to compromise systems that are firewall protected. As this is a true worm, if the infection is able to reach a single computer within your network all of your systems and servers are at risk of becoming infected.

Take a moment to remind your staff that they need to be exercising extreme caution at all times when checking their email. If anything even slightly suspicious finds its way into an employee’s inbox, they need to know how to handle the situation and who to alert. All it takes is one mistake for your business to suffer serious damage, and events like this serve as an ugly reminder that a certain level of vigilance is required at all times to keep your business secure.

If you have concerns or want to find out more about what you can do to protect your business in the wake of this latest ransomware attack, please contact InfiNet Solutions right away at [email protected] or (402) 895--5777. Our team is here to help.

Are you wasting money with Break/Fix IT services, like so many other businesses today? There’s a better way: Managed Services.

Having the right tech is no longer a choice when it comes to running a business. Up-to-date hardware, software, and security solutions are now essential to your day-to-day operations.

Without ongoing support to keep your business tech running smoothly, you’re simply wasting your money, and setting your business up for serious downtime. You’ll be vulnerable to huge repair costs when you’re forced to call in a tech to fix things. In this scenario, just a small problem can quickly become a very costly one.

By choosing an expert provider to be your outsourced IT department, handling your entire IT environment, you can save money, increase efficiency, and enjoy a better end-user experience.

So, what’s the difference between Break/Fix and Managed Services?

Break/Fix service is the traditional style of outsourced IT services, which works by fixing your computers once they’re broken. In a nutshell, when something goes wrong — data loss, hardware failure, virus, etc. — you then get in touch with your Break/Fix support provider, and have them fix it. The break-fix strategy no longer works for businesses today.  If you still use this method of IT service, you risk downtime that can literally shut your business down.

With Break/Fix Services:

• A tech typically charges by the hour. This encourages him to focus on billable hours. It doesn’t benefit him if your tech is working the way it should. You could find yourself repeatedly calling them to help with a problem that never quite gets resolved.
• A minor computer problem can quickly turn into a disaster. This is especially true today with the increase in cyber crime like ransomware. What starts out with just one malicious email can spread throughout your entire network, locking down your data, and your operations.
• It could take days to fix your problem – in the meantime, your employees won’t have access to the data they need to continue working. You’re simply “bleeding money” by the minute.
• Your support provider starts charging you after you’ve already lost work time – time spent on repairs or updates can add up fast.
• It’s impossible to predict how much to budget for IT services. You can’t know what will happen or how expensive it might be.

The difference between “break-fix” and fully managed support?  Break-fix provides on-site repair after a problem is identified, whereas fully managed support provides ongoing maintenance, updates, and more to prevent problems from occurring in the first place.

Managed Services — a set of best practices, processes, and tools that, when combined with technical knowledge and proper facilitation, delivers an ideal result for businesses — is the modern model for IT support, offering a range of vital solutions to your business all for one monthly rate. With fully managed support, you know that your business technology and data are protected 24/7:

• You can finally focus on running your business and not on IT worries. Your third party support provider will minimize or eliminate downtime that could hit your bottom line.
• Your tech support can be provided remotely without a technician visiting your office. There will be instances that require in-person care, such as hardware replacement. However, most of what affects your day-to-day operations can be worked on remotely.
• You’ll benefit from a flat-rate payment model, allowing you to budget your tech more effectively. You’ll be able to plan for growth far more easily and with greater peace of mind.
• Tech maintenance from a third party is more cost-effective than relying on break-fix solutions, especially when you consider the lost revenue from downtime.

Think of it this way: while a Managed Services Provider is available around-the-clock, and compensated through your (and other clients’) monthly flat rate, Break/Fix service is unpredictable when it comes to costs and repair times.

• A Break/Fix approach may be a lower cost on paper but it can get expensive rather quickly – which means your overall ROI isn’t as great as it could be.
• Managed Services are designed to maximize your budget and provide the support and solutions you need to stay focused on your important work and keep under budget.

The reality is that remote tech support will always be more cost effective than hiring break/fix, or in-house technicians. The choice is easy: more expensive, inconsistent, unreliable break-fix services? – Or reliable, affordable, fully managed support that provides:

• 24/7/365 Services
• Increased operational efficiency
• Increased productivity
• Up-to-date IT solutions
• Security patches and alerts
• Backup and Disaster Recovery Solutions
• Minimized downtime
• Enterprise-level solutions and support
• Controlled IT costs
• The ability to focus on what you need to do
• Peace of mind

Make InfiNet Solutions your outsourced IT department right away – blend all your computer networking support and services with all your hardware for even more monthly savings.

Have questions? Contact us at [email protected] or (402) 895--5777.

Public Wi-Fi can be quite dangerous.

Here is a detailed list of the most common risks of using it and how to mitigate them.

June is the Official National Candy Month. Thus, it is only fitting that we spend some time talking about the sweet things in life. For instance, we are going to talk about how you can sweeten the Wi-Fi experience within your business premises for customers and members of staff. Most companies imagine that things such as public Wi-Fi are a background consideration. However, with the internet playing an increasing role in the success or failure of businesses, it is important to ensure its security. Here are a few things about the security of public Wi-Fi and possible solutions that I have prepared.

Some of the Risk You Face When Using Public Wi-Fi.

On public Wi-Fi, there are numerous methods, which people with malicious intentions can use to get to you. Here are some of the most common:

· MITM interceptions.

The ‘Man IN The Middle’ attacks are a common form of attacks on people on public Wi-Fi. These attacks when an adversary captures the data you are sending. Most hackers who use this method exploit flaws in apps or websites to view information going through them. The information could include passwords, financial data, and other data that could be used for identity theft.

There are many different types of MITM attacks. However, the most common are those that occur over unencrypted Wi-Fi networks. Even when you are accessing a secure website, security is not guaranteed if the network is not encrypted.

· Fake Hotspots.

Criminal create fake wireless networks all the time to steal from people. When you connect to such a network, you give criminals an opportunity to monitor all your data.

· Wireless “sniffing.”

This is a practice where your data is observed, intercepted, and interpreted. It helps experts to diagnose any problems on the network. In the wrong hands, it can be used to monitor and collect data from unsuspecting victims.

1. Check the Terms and Conditions.

In your desire to get some free internet, it can be quite tempting to click through any terms and conditions that pop up on your screen. However, you should be careful about what you sign up for in public. A huge amount of free public Wi-Fi also takes something from you. These firms will give you some bandwidth as long as you agree to give them your email address and a phone number for instance.

The terms and conditions include details on how the company will make use of the data they collect from you. If you can bear to wait for just a few minutes, it can be quite beneficial to read what you are giving up. It is one of those times when having an alternative email can prove useful.

2. Stick to Advertised Wi-Fi Networks.

Just because you see free Wi-Fi pop up on your screen does not mean you must connect to it. Hackers are known to set up free Wi-Fi that they use to mine data from unsuspecting individuals. If you see open Wi-Fi that is not advertised publicly, you will have to think twice about using it.

3. Only Visit Secure Sites on Wi-Fi.

The green padlock at the top left corner of your browser shows you that you are connecting to a secure site. This sign is even more important when you are relying on free Wi-Fi. Think hard before doing anything important when on free Wi-Fi. For instance, avoid making any credit card transactions on public Wi-Fi.

Additionally, it is best to use a mobile browser rather than an app when on public Wi-Fi. Mobile browsers are better at checking the security of sites than apps. Some apps could be accepting fake security credentials without you knowing about it.

For apps, you are at the mercy of developers when it comes to app security. You should only use apps from trusted companies when using public Wi-Fi. Such companies spend millions every year to ensure that their apps are secure. However, even then you are not guaranteed of being secure.

4. Make Use of VPN.

A VPN connection is something that you must have if you are using any device that you also use for your business when on public Wi-Fi. That way, even when a hacker manages to gain access to your connection, they will only receive encrypted data. Since most hackers are in search of easy targets, they will discard encrypted data rather than try to decrypt it.

5. Switch Off Sharing.

When your device is connected to the Internet in a public area, you will not want to share anything. You can turn off sharing in the Control Panel depending on the OS you use. You may also opt to have your OS do it for you by choosing “Public” the first time you connect to a public network.

6. Switch Off Wi-Fi Capabilities in Public.

Even when you are not actively connected to any Wi-Fi network, your computer hardware can still transmit data to any network that is in range. There are measures in place to keep such networks from getting in touch with you. However, hackers can be quite smart, and they can get into your laptop. Besides that, switching off Wi-Fi settings allows you to extend the battery life of your device.

7. Have some Great Protection.

Even when you take all the above measures, you will run into issues sometimes. It is a fact of the modern world in which we live in today. That is why you must purchase the best Wi-Fi security solutions for your devices at all times. Such programs will constantly check for malware and scan any new files that you download. When purchasing security software for your business machines, you should not spare any expenses. Cheap could come to haunt you in a big way eventually.

Other Useful Tips.

Avoid downloading anything when using public Wi-Fi. Additionally, always ensure that the OS and all other software are always up to date. Although your device automatically manages your connection when you are on public Wi-Fi, it is always best to double check.

When you are done with a Wi-Fi, always forget the network. That way, you can reduce the security risk to your device. Additionally, make simple choices like using different passwords for each app.