Blue Ridge Technology

Password Security We humans have some pretty bad habits around security, don’t we? Take a minute and think about where you live: are you sure — absolutely sure — that every window to your home is locked? And speaking of locks at home: sure, your average home door lock is enough to keep out a random stranger. But if someone really wants to break into your home, that lock probably isn’t going to stop them. Broaden the scope a little and think of stores, ballparks, even airports: our typical conventional security methods are effective to a degree, but they aren’t foolproof. And in many cases, if someone’s motivated enough, they can find a way to circumvent those systems (at least for a while). Unfortunately, our tendency toward bad security habits extends to the digital realm. In general, people are really, really bad about passwords — and that’s a big problem. Why Password Security Is Worth Talking About Passwords matter because stealing, guessing, or otherwise compromising passwords is ...

Low Voltage Wiring for Your Office Space In today's technology-driven landscape, ensuring an efficient, secure, and reliable IT infrastructure is crucial for business success. At Blue Ridge Technology, we focus on providing tailored IT solutions that empower Asheville and Hendersonville businesses to thrive. A significant component of this infrastructure is low voltage wiring, which supports network communications, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and more. This article explores the benefits and considerations of low voltage wiring for businesses. Understanding low voltage wiring Low voltage wiring is used for various applications, including network communications like VoIP and video conferencing, as well as security systems and data transmission. Unlike high voltage systems, low voltage solutions operate below 50 volts, which can enhance safety and reduce risks associated with electrical installations. This type of wiring is crucial for enabling modern IT environments to funct...

Incognito Mode Incognito Mode, Private Browsing, InPrivate mode: it goes by a number of different names, all with the same basic promise: web activity that happens here won’t be tracked…right? Well, kind of. There’s more to the story — and Microsoft is changing some elements of how this works in Windows. Here’s what you need to know. What Is Private Browsing? Private browsing is a feature in nearly every modern internet browser where users can open a window where their activity won’t be tracked or stored in cache or history. We can’t get any further without getting this out of the way: most people’s first thought when they hear “private browsing” or “incognito mode” is, shall we say, browsing that's not safe for work. That’s not what we’re talking about here. Instead, there are numerous business-related reasons to use this feature. Marketers use it to research the competition, to see how their own websites appear to outsiders, and so on. Content creators use it to res...

Have you taken a look at Microsoft Copilot lately? It’s not for everyone or every situation, but if you haven’t poked around to see what it can do, it’s worth a look. Today we’ll review a few ways that Microsoft Copilot can help you in your work and business. Plus, Microsoft recently announced some new experimental features that may roll out later this year. We’ll distill it all down to the stuff that’s most helpful to business leaders like you. What Is Copilot? Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft’s AI assistant, built into the latest versions of Windows and some Microsoft 365 products. Think chatGPT or Google Gemini, but in Microsoft flavor: Copilot harnesses the power of large language models (LLMs) and other AI technologies to do two primary things: “Understand” conversational text in a way that previous systems couldn’t Respond to that text in sensible conversational text of its own This goes far beyond what a classic Google or Bing search could do: there, the search algorithms tried to...

Voice Over Internet Protocol In today’s fast-paced business environment, small businesses need to remain agile and efficient to compete effectively. Cloud-based VoIP integrations offer a scalable, cost-effective solution for enhancing communication infrastructure. At Blue Ridge Technology, we understand the unique needs of small businesses in the Asheville and Hendersonville, NC area, and provide tailored IT solutions to ensure operational reliability and growth. Understanding cloud-based VoIP Cloud-based VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services transform traditional communication systems by transmitting calls over the internet. This technology not only reduces costs but also enhances flexibility and scalability, allowing small businesses to expand their operations seamlessly. Cost efficiency : VoIP reduces the need for expensive hardware and maintenance. Scalability : Easily adjust the number of users as your business grows. Flexibility : Access communication tools from anywhere w...

Cyber Attacks Are Threatening Businesses If you’re a business owner, founder, or senior leader, chances are you spend some amount of time thinking about business continuity, about how and whether your company will survive (and thrive) over the next 5, 10, 20 years. That’s a good thing: you’re invested in your company’s success, after all. But this level of investment can come with a dark side: fear and anxiety. Fear of falling victim to a cyberattack is enough to keep many business leaders up at night — and that’s probably a good thing. Here’s why you’re right to be concerned, plus what you can do to soften those fears and better protect your business. Cyber Attacks Are Existentially Dangerous First, it’s worth remembering that cyber attacks aren’t just a minor distraction from business at hand. We’re not talking about relatively innocuous threats like adware or malware that siphons off some of your processing power. We’re talking about serious threats that can be dangerous, even exist...

Malvertising Online advertising has come a long way since the early days of the internet: thanks to the magic of targeted advertising and retargeting, today’s ads are even moderately useful, at least some of the time. For most of us, it wasn’t exactly hard to avoid clicking on garish flashing ads for things we didn’t want. But today’s ads? A lot more often they’re about things we legitimately have interest in. That can be good when it helps us learn about deals on stuff we want. But there’s a dark side, too: something called “malvertising.” Here’s what you need to know. What Exactly Is Malvertising? Malvertising is a form of cyberattack that starts with an online ad — or something imitating an online ad. These ads can look like just about anything: a great deal on a pair of shoes, a free download of software that can help make your life easier, whatever. You can probably guess where this is going: you click on the ad, and things don’t exactly go the way you think they should. Simi...