What is IT talking about in this new year
In our January 2020 SIMformation, we discuss some trends for this new year that the IT pundits believe will be on the top of the list for interest. We also look at the transition from Windows 7 to Windows 10, now that Windows 7 has gone out of support – but the numbers show it is still hanging on out there. And, Microsoft is adopting a "when it is ready" schedule for updates to Windows 10 rather than tying to cram features into their traditional semi-annual process. There is a new ploy from the "bad guys" to be aware of – "juice jacking" wherein compromised public USB charging stations can be a point of malware infections, so watch out in airports, coffee shops and other locations. Finally, we go beyond what is trending for 2020 and look at what the crystal ball has in store for the upcoming decade of technology and some farther out trends to consider.
Will Passwords go Away?
In our December SIMformation, we discuss where security will go, and if passwords will ever be replaced by biometrics, or even more extreme measures such as implanted chips. We discuss the browser war and how Firefox is lagging in revenues, bringing into question Mozilla's position in the market. We preview the new SecuriSync app that will let you view documents in Window Explorer without having to download them, Google is extending their AI chops into Google Docs with "Smart Compose" that will help users draft documents faster by suggesting common phrases and words to complete their writing. And, we look at the 2020 crystal ball and several trends the IT experts believe will be impacting technology in the coming year. Plus our random factoids from tech. Happy holidays to all our friends, and we look forward to continuing to be your IT partner in this next year and decade.
Windows 7, Server 2008/R2 and others reach end of support date January 2020.
In our November SIMformation we reinforce the warning that Windows 7 and Server 2008 will reach their end of support date in just under two months from now – if you have not planned your migration strategy yet, time is short to get this done. We outline the "best practices" steps it take for a smooth transition and why you need to be working on updates now. We also look at advances Microsoft has made in adopting the Chromium platform for their Edge browser, how Robocalls are exploding and how you can avoid being scammed, and new advances in detection of phishing e-mail attacks to help ward off persistent scams. We also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Internet and look at the changes it has made and what we might expect in years to come. And a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Competing updates muddy process
In our October SIMformation we look at the updates issued by Microsoft and how they overlap the various versions of Windows 10, which is why we recommend clients take advantage of our Windows Update service – let us worry about who gets what update and when. We also – by request – provide a keyboard shortcut guide to Microsoft Excel. We look at a discussion from Computerworld about what ails the PC industry and why this market is lagging in growth. We look again at exploits that permit the introduction of malware on your PCs and network, and what to watch for and how to avoid being infected. Plus other news like new phones from Zultys.
Windows 7, Server 2008/R2 and others reach end of support date January 2020.
In our September SIMformation, we want everyone to be aware that Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Server 2008/2008R2 and Exchange Server 2010 all will reach their "End of Life" date in January, 2020. Plus, Office 2010 will reach its end of life in October 2020. This means Microsoft will no longer provide security updates and feature patches, leaving this software vulnerable to malware attacks. SIM2K urges everyone to have a migration plan in place and budget for software updates now as this year ends to be prepared for the January end of support date. We have more details in this issue. We also discuss how cybercriminals are targeting education now days and what schools need to be aware of to protect student and faculty data. We recap "Spoofing" and what you can do to identify phishing and other scam attacks. And, we have a handy list of keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Word users so you can get around hunting through various "Ribbons" to do simple formatting tweaks.