SOS Support
type: channel
description: IT Support done BETTER
date: 2024-07-26T15:47:25Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
generator agent: https://wordpress.org/
items: The day the IT held the Earth Still
items: Crowdstrike Outage
items: The Chinese Hack That Stole 22 Million People’s Data
items: Top 5 Virtual Team Building Activities
items: Breaking the Record-breaking Vulnerability in Google Chrome in May Underscores the need to Move Away from reactive-based IT Solutions
items: Tips for Improving Efficiency at Work
items: How to Build a Security-First Culture That Empowers Your Hybrid Workforce
items: 10 Ways to Make Your iPhone Charge Faster
items: A Simple Guide to the Updated NIST 2.0 Cybersecurity Framework
items: Hot off the Digital Presses… Learn About Microsoft Copilot for Finance

The day the IT held the Earth Still
type: item
creator: SOS Support
date: 2024-07-22T21:53:01Z
subject: Blog
subject: crowdstrike
description: Crowdstrike: The day the IT First: WINNER from my last newsletter for the Amazon Gift Card was Ariana w/ Atlas Investment Management & Retirement Solutions! Ariana responded to my newsletter in what seemed like a tenth of a second! Congrats! July 19th: The CrowdStrike flawed... The post The day the IT held the Earth Still appeared first on SOS Support.
encoded: Crowdstrike: The day the IT First: WINNER from my last newsletter for the Amazon Gift Card was Ariana w/ Atlas Investment Management & Retirement Solutions! Ariana responded to my newsletter in what seemed like a tenth of a second! Congrats! July 19th: The CrowdStrike flawed patch that took the Earth to a grinding halt Did you notice anything unusual on Friday, July 19th even through the weekend? Personally, I noticed Amazon packages showed up late. FedEx deliveries were delayed. Weird things were happening all over the place. Payment processors were “broken”… It was like the moon-earth connection myths were all coming to fruition. CrowdStrike, is one of the, if not the most globally recognized leading company of “I.T. awesomeness” … an all-in-one platform called CrowdStrike Falcon Complete that essentially replaces **nearly** every I.T. defense tool needed… This software offers Endpoint Security; Exposure Management; Identify Threat Detection & Response; IT Automation; Threat Intelligence & Hunting; Cloud Security; Next-Gen SIEM; Generative AI; Data Protection; Workflow Automation… All under their flagship product. This company WAS so “SO HOT” that its stock price was hovering near $400/share. We actually have been looking at them for over a year and considering them as our solution of choice on behalf of our clients… But the barrier to entry is SO EXPENSIVE… $98,400 per customer MSRP per year. So, if we have 70 clients we do I.T. support for, that would be $98,400×70 (in other words, they are too good for us). Their product also has remediation of all security issues – so when an issue is found, their NOC (network operation center) which employs hundreds of engineers logs into the affected computers on behalf of the company’s I.T. department and remediates the issues. Time Magazine: 298 of the Fortune 500 companies including banks, energy companies, healthcare companies, and food companies use CrowdStrike!! What Happened? On Thursday evening, July 18th, CrowdStrik…

Crowdstrike Outage
type: item
creator: SOS Support
date: 2024-07-19T16:18:15Z
subject: Blog
subject: crowdstrike
description: Crowdstrike Outage occurred on July, 19th This outage is affecting people worldwide, with multiple companies experiencing issues. It is impacting businesses across various sectors, including airlines and even 911 services in some cases. There have been reports of banks in other countries facing similar... The post Crowdstrike Outage appeared first on SOS Support.
encoded: Crowdstrike Outage occurred on July, 19th This outage is affecting people worldwide, with multiple companies experiencing issues. It is impacting businesses across various sectors, including airlines and even 911 services in some cases. There have been reports of banks in other countries facing similar problems, although there is no confirmation of any impact on banks in the United States. This issue appears to be occurring not only in the United States but also globally, affecting different industries. It is important to note that this is not a cybersecurity attack but rather a computer glitch. Crowdstrike, a well-known cybersecurity firm, was working on an update when this incident occurred. The CEO has confirmed that this is not a security incident or cyber attack, further emphasizing that Crowdstrike plays a crucial role in protecting systems from hacking. The issue seems to stem from a problem between Crowdstrike and Microsoft. When there is an issue with Crowdstrike, it affects all Microsoft computers that are connected to it. Mac and Linux computers are not affected. Many individuals have reported encountering a blue screen on their computers at banks, airlines, and other locations. This issue, known as the “blue screen of death,” essentially locks users out of their computers, causing inconvenience and potential disruptions in services. While personal computers without the Crowdstrike plugin or cybersecurity layer may not be affected, enterprise companies and corporate customers relying on this protection are facing significant challenges. These challenges range from being unable to print boarding passes for flights to bank tellers being unable to assist customers with account openings. Crowdstrike is actively working to resolve this issue, and they have identified the problem, isolated it, and deployed a fix. However, the duration of the fix’s deployment and its impact on existing issues are still uncertain. It is crucial to recognize the urgency of resolvi…

The Chinese Hack That Stole 22 Million People’s Data
type: item
creator: SOS Support
date: 2024-07-15T18:12:44Z
subject: Blog
subject: china
description: Two powers compete to dominate the global market we know foreign countries and companies swipe our corporate Secrets China Breaks the Rules in its quest to become the world’s economic superpower There’s two types of companies left in the United States companies that have... The post The Chinese Hack That Stole 22 Million People’s Data appeared first on SOS Support.
encoded: Two powers compete to dominate the global market we know foreign countries and companies swipe our corporate Secrets China Breaks the Rules in its quest to become the world’s economic superpower There’s two types of companies left in the United States companies that have been hacked by China and companies that don’t know they’ve been hacked by China, yet Chinese hackers breach American corporations under direct orders from Beijing. This is often times a military operation and you don’t disobey orders in the military, billions of dollars worth of us trade secrets are stolen every year, the people behind the keyboard think they’re Anonymous and these charges show you are not What will it take to stop the theft? In July 2015 the Washington based USA office of personnel management announced that the private records it kept in more than 22 million American civil servants had been stolen the US government never formerly blamed China but plenty of unnamed officials made the accusation that Chinese government backed agencies can steal information about how you live with, your social security number, your date of birth, what schools you went or even your employment history so a lot of significant personally identifiable information that we consider um very sensitive and how long will the intelligence Community the United States be feeling the ramifications of this This data can be used to Target US government employees and contractors for many many years and to try to bribe them. Google Google broke the silence on their blog in January 2010 the American Technology giant had been hacked and China was to blame but Google wasn’t the only company targeted it was just the first one to go public a slew of other Fortune 500 corporations were also hacked and an attack now known as operation Aurora what was interesting about operation Aurora wasn’t that it was some kind of new attack it was that it was the first time an American company had had the courage to stand up and point the f…

Top 5 Virtual Team Building Activities
type: item
creator: SOS Support
date: 2024-07-11T19:04:22Z
subject: Blog
subject: remote work
description: In today’s digital age, more organizations than ever are using remote staff. While this change provides various advantages, such as flexible work conditions and access to a global labor pool, it also introduces a new set of obstacles. Improving business culture in remote work situations... The post Top 5 Virtual Team Building Activities appeared first on SOS Support.
encoded: In today’s digital age, more organizations than ever are using remote staff. While this change provides various advantages, such as flexible work conditions and access to a global labor pool, it also introduces a new set of obstacles. Improving business culture in remote work situations is critical to retaining a pleasant and productive team. Incorporating a virtual team-building exercise is an important tactic for improving corporate culture and sustaining a good, productive remote workforce. Virtual meetings have evolved into an important tool for preserving ties and improving business culture, providing as a platform for arranging virtual icebreaker games, establishing virtual reading clubs, and even bringing unique visitors such as llamas or goats to engage and excite the team. One of the primary problems is ensuring that remote employees feel as integrated and connected as their in-office colleagues. To address this, try using virtual team-building activities that have been proved to improve team cohesiveness and morale. These activities are especially crucial for virtual teams since they confront problems such as communication across time zones and a lack of social connections, both of which can impede cooperation and engagement among distant employees. Here’s an overview of interesting virtual activities for your business, as well as recommendations on how to get started, including the necessary equipment. Virtual Team Building Activities Virtual escape rooms. Escape rooms are exhilarating puzzle-solving experiences that need collaboration and creative thinking. Many platforms now provide virtual escape rooms specifically for remote teams. Participants are separated into groups and must work together to solve riddles and escape a virtual confined area. This exercise promotes teamwork, improves problem-solving abilities, and provides a pleasant method for team members to interact, making it a valuable team-building event. To begin, you will need a virtual esca…

Breaking the Record-breaking Vulnerability in Google Chrome in May Underscores the need to Move Away from reactive-based IT Solutions
type: item
creator: SOS Support
date: 2024-07-11T18:45:54Z
subject: Blog
subject: newsletter
description: Hello from SOS|Support! I’m a few days late for July’s newsletter having spent last week in Lake Powell with family and friends… I’ll put a fun 4th of July picture below for all my SOS friends. 🙂 NOTE: READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH, PAY... The post Breaking the Record-breaking Vulnerability in Google Chrome in May Underscores the need to Move Away from reactive-based IT Solutions appeared first on SOS Support.
encoded: Hello from SOS|Support! I’m a few days late for July’s newsletter having spent last week in Lake Powell with family and friends… I’ll put a fun 4th of July picture below for all my SOS friends. NOTE: READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH, PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS… FIND THE POP QUIZ AND THE FIRST ONE TO EMAIL ME BACK THE ANSWER WILL GET A $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD! We anticipate unveiling some awesome upgrades from our team in the next few weeks! In the meantime, I wanted to share some statistics about the 2024 year to date. My right-hand man Scott Gentry was in Denver for “Pax8 Beyond” in June… which is an I.T. conference quickly becoming the Gold Standard tech conference of the year with execs from Microsoft, Amazon AWS, Google, Apple, and dozens of the other largest Tech companies in the world. A few notable highlights (or, lowlights.. as this is kind of sad): Ransomware Attacks in 2024 are up 96% Year to date, there have been more successful attacks in 2024 than all of 2023 alone NVidia passed Apple as the 2nd largest Tech company. Only Microsoft is bigger. Microsoft 365 continues to dominate Google Workspace What do we think about this? This exceeded expectations – in the wrong way. I expected things to get worse, but not this bad. We are ahead of the curve – and were already eliminating all our “Reactive” support plans… It’s bad I.T. business at this point to be reactive. There is far too dominant a need for proactive remediation and monitoring for all I.T. assets … Not just for our client’s sake, but also to protect ourselves. We eliminated our Hybrid plan for this very reason – and replaced it with our “IT Unleashed Lite” plan… which is the same thing, other than we are pro-actively patching operating systems and 3rd party applications (such as Chrome, if you recall my email last month) from vulnerabilities. At this point, not doing this is more like running a new car into the ground… waiting for it to break, and not doing oil changes and maintenance proactively. Yes, you …

Tips for Improving Efficiency at Work
type: item
creator: SOS Support
date: 2024-07-10T20:53:19Z
subject: Blog
subject: hybrid work
subject: remote work
description: We need to move and keep up the pace. Nobody likes to be left behind, yet that is what happens to people who refuse to adapt to a changing environment. Of course, some things will not change as quickly as others, and others may change... The post Tips for Improving Efficiency at Work appeared first on SOS Support.
encoded: We need to move and keep up the pace. Nobody likes to be left behind, yet that is what happens to people who refuse to adapt to a changing environment. Of course, some things will not change as quickly as others, and others may change at an unforeseen rate, but everything is moving. Whether we like it or not, innovation is no longer an elusive miracle; instead, it is more akin to everyday excellence. And, since we frequently encounter changes and new ways, adjusting becomes a major concern. We have all adapted to several changes during our lives. Growing up is an act of ongoing adaptation, as we see it, therefore it is reasonable to assume that we have all had some experience with it. Of course, in this scenario, experience does not imply competence, nor is it a developed and mastered talent. Most of us may benefit from some training in this skill to ride the tsunami of growth and change that is fast approaching us. When we think about training, we believe in repetition. Perhaps something has been fixed. To perfect a skill, you practice it repeatedly. When we practice for a tournament, we repeat a set of maneuvers until we have them ingrained in our system, and we do this with all types of training. But how can you develop a talent that involves change? There goes the difficulty. Improving your adaptability requires training it like a muscle. But then, how do we exercise this muscle? There are several ways we may work around and within this skill to guarantee comprehensive and practical instruction. Please continue reading to master them. Seek feedback Every now and then, we attend a meeting or speak with a management who informs us of areas where they believe we may improve. In other cases, we may believe that we are doing admirably, yet this is a matter of style rather than performance. But what is it in these ideas that encourages us to grow? It may not be a wonderful comment on how we can dramatically increase our performance, but it may be a basic bit of advise…

How to Build a Security-First Culture That Empowers Your Hybrid Workforce
type: item
creator: SOS Support
date: 2024-07-10T18:35:06Z
subject: Blog
subject: remote work
description: Imagine a workplace where every employee is vigilant against cyberthreats, a place where security isn’t just a protocol but a mindset. In the era of hybrid work, achieving this vision is not just ideal — it’s a necessity. While implementing security controls and tools... The post How to Build a Security-First Culture That Empowers Your Hybrid Workforce appeared first on SOS Support.
encoded: Imagine a workplace where every employee is vigilant against cyberthreats, a place where security isn’t just a protocol but a mindset. In the era of hybrid work, achieving this vision is not just ideal — it’s a necessity. While implementing security controls and tools is crucial, the true strength lies in empowering your workforce to prioritize security. Without their buy-in, even the most advanced defenses can be rendered ineffective. Building a security-first culture in a hybrid work environment is a complex but achievable task. It requires a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that not only involves but also empowers your workforce. Let’s explore how to create such a strategy. Key components of a good cybersecurity strategy Here are the critical components that can take your cybersecurity strategy to the next level: Perimeter-less technology In a hybrid work model, employees work from various locations and collaborate online. This means upgrading your security systems to match the demands of this environment type. Invest in cloud-based SaaS applications that are accessible from anywhere. Ensure your applications support Zero-Trust architecture, a security concept centered on the belief that organizations should not automatically trust anything inside or outside their perimeters. Instead, they must verify anything and everything trying to connect to their systems before granting access. Documented policies and procedures Clearly document your security policies and procedures to ensure enforcement. Without documentation, staff may not understand the purpose or steps involved, leading to a lack of buy-in. Identify critical IT policies and procedures, document them, and share them with the relevant teams and staff. Keep the files up-to-date and accessible. Review policies periodically and make changes as needed. Security awareness training programs Make your employees the first line of defense against cyberattacks. Set up interactive training programs to defend agai…

10 Ways to Make Your iPhone Charge Faster
type: item
creator: SOS Support
date: 2024-07-09T21:56:25Z
subject: Blog
subject: iPhone
description: Nobody enjoys waiting for their phone to charge, especially when they have someplace to go. While Apple’s technology has intrinsic limitations, there are a few things you can do to ensure your iPhone charges as quickly as possible. If your phone isn’t charging at all,... The post 10 Ways to Make Your iPhone Charge Faster appeared first on SOS Support.
encoded: Nobody enjoys waiting for their phone to charge, especially when they have someplace to go. While Apple’s technology has intrinsic limitations, there are a few things you can do to ensure your iPhone charges as quickly as possible. If your phone isn’t charging at all, we have a separate tutorial for fixing iPhones that won’t charge, as well as one for improving iPhone battery life. Enable low power mode. If you want to charge quickly, turn off all non-essential operations; otherwise, it’s like filling a car’s petrol tank while the engine is running. You can keep your iPhone turned on, but you’ll benefit from enabling Low Power Mode, which reduces animations, 5G consumption, display brightness, and background sync. For example, the Photos app does not immediately upload new photographs to iCloud. You may activate Low Power Mode in one of two methods. The first step is to go to Settings > Battery. The second and simpler option is to launch Control Center by sliding down from the top-right corner of the homescreen and tapping on the battery symbol. If you don’t see the icon, click to Settings > Control Center to add it. Turn off the phone. It may seem sacrilege to suggest it, but if you can get by without your phone for an hour or two, turn it off. We don’t mean “sleep mode,” but all the way. Most iPhone models, which no longer have a home button, may be turned off by holding down the side button and one of the volume keys until a series of sliders display onscreen. To power off, drag the Slide to the right. When it’s time to turn it back on, hold the side button. Do not use your phone while it is charging If shutting off your phone or even using Low Power Mode is too extreme for you, you should at least set it down for a bit. Simply having your screen on is a power drain, let alone things like music and video. Perhaps the worst thing you can do is play an aggressive 3D game that strains your phone to its limits. This can also cause the phone to overheat, further limit…

A Simple Guide to the Updated NIST 2.0 Cybersecurity Framework
type: item
creator: SOS Support
date: 2024-07-09T19:25:34Z
subject: Blog
description: Staying ahead of threats is a challenge for organizations of all sizes. Reported global security incidents grew between February and March of 2024. They increased by 69.8%. It’s important to use a structured approach to cybersecurity. This helps to protect your organization. The National Institute... The post A Simple Guide to the Updated NIST 2.0 Cybersecurity Framework appeared first on SOS Support.
encoded: Staying ahead of threats is a challenge for organizations of all sizes. Reported global security incidents grew between February and March of 2024. They increased by 69.8%. It’s important to use a structured approach to cybersecurity. This helps to protect your organization. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) created a Cybersecurity Framework (CSF). It provides an industry-agnostic approach to security. It’s designed to help companies manage and reduce their cybersecurity risks. The framework was recently updated in 2024 to NIST CSF 2.0. CSF 2.0 is a comprehensive update that builds upon the success of its predecessor. It offers a more streamlined and flexible approach to cybersecurity. This guide aims to simplify the framework as well as make it more easily accessible to small and large businesses alike. Understanding the Core of NIST CSF 2.0 At the heart of CSF 2.0 is the Core. The Core consists of five concurrent and continuous Functions. These are: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. These Functions provide a high-level strategic view of cybersecurity risk as well as an organization’s management of that risk. This allows for a dynamic approach to addressing threats. Here are the five Core Functions of NIST CSF 2.0. 1. Identify This function involves identifying and understanding the organization’s assets, cyber risks, and vulnerabilities. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of what you need to protect. You need this before you can install safeguards. 2. Protect The protect function focuses on implementing safeguards. These protections are to deter, detect, and mitigate cybersecurity risks. This includes measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption. 3. Detect Early detection of cybersecurity incidents is critical for minimizing damage. The detect function emphasizes the importance of detection as well as having mechanisms to identify and report suspicious activity. 4.Respond The respond …

Hot off the Digital Presses… Learn About Microsoft Copilot for Finance
type: item
creator: SOS Support
date: 2024-07-09T18:43:52Z
subject: Blog
subject: microsoft copilot
description: Microsoft Copilot has been at the forefront of driving business AI initiatives across various Microsoft platforms such as Word, Excel, Edge, Windows, and more. This cutting-edge AI application has extended its reach to finance processes, providing a game-changing experience for users. By integrating next-generation AI... The post Hot off the Digital Presses… Learn About Microsoft Copilot for Finance appeared first on SOS Support.
encoded: Microsoft Copilot has been at the forefront of driving business AI initiatives across various Microsoft platforms such as Word, Excel, Edge, Windows, and more. This cutting-edge AI application has extended its reach to finance processes, providing a game-changing experience for users. By integrating next-generation AI capabilities into daily workflows, Copilot for Finance acts as a knowledgeable AI companion that streamlines tasks, offers real-time insights, and aims to transform financial operations for professionals, whether seasoned analysts or eager learners. Microsoft Copilot for Finance, a recent addition to the Copilot suite within Microsoft 365, offers AI-assisted support tailored for financial professionals within their everyday productivity apps. By connecting with business financial systems like Dynamics 365 and SAP, Copilot for Finance delivers finance-focused insights and guided actions in popular applications such as Outlook, Excel, Microsoft Teams, and other Microsoft 365 tools. The benefits of utilizing Copilot for Finance are prolific, with finance professionals no longer bogged down by repetitive manual tasks. By automating mundane activities like data entry and report generation, Copilot for Finance frees up time for strategic planning and analysis. This AI-driven tool not only automates processes but also provides intelligent insights tailored to an organization’s financial data and behavior, enabling users to uncover trends, predict cash flow challenges, and identify areas for cost optimization seamlessly within the Microsoft 365 environment. Catering to the specific needs of diverse financial roles, Copilot for Finance offers role-specific workflows and features that streamline operations, from audits to collections to financial reporting. With seamless integration into existing Microsoft 365 tools, Copilot for Finance ensures a frictionless experience, eliminating the need for application-jumping and data import struggles while promoting colla…