Blue Ridge Technology

​ We talk a lot about cybersecurity on this blog and with our customers, and that’s on purpose: the risk of a cyberattack is real for small businesses like yours, and we want to help keep you safe! But what about good old-fashioned real-world safety? The best cybersecurity policies known to humankind can’t protect you from physical threats that exist in real life (IRL) — people stealing credentials from that sticky note on your desk or peeping at sensitive documents on your screen at the local coffee shop. If IRL privacy matters to your business, we have good news: an upcoming feature coming to Windows 11 will help. It’s called Onlooker Detection, and here’s what to know. What Is Onlooker Detection? Onlooker Detection is a new feature coming to Windows 11 that can sense when someone besides you might be lurking, trying to watch your screen. When Onlooker Detection “sees” someone who shouldn’t be there, it can be set to automatically dim your screen or even pop up a warning, alerting yo...

SHOCK STAT: A third of business owners don’t trust their staff Business success thrives on trust: to some degree, you trust that your customers and suppliers and vendors will all pay what they’ve promised, deliver goods on time, and keep the services running that you rely on to power your business. But trust is a tricky thing. And we’re often unsure exactly how much we can (or should) trust people. It’s one of the reasons some business owners struggled with the idea of remote or hybrid work. Too much trust is also a significant driver in cyberattacks, data theft, and any other sort of digital threat your business faces. One recent survey revealed something shocking: around a third of business owners don’t trust their own staff. Let’s take a look at why this is — both the good and the not-so-good reasons business leaders struggle to trust employees — along with what you can do to improve this crucial area. Why Leaders Struggle to Trust Many leaders struggle to trust because of past expe...

Android 13 is safer for your business Mobile devices can be a security threat to your business — but it’s hardly possible to force your people to never access business materials while on the go. Doing that might even threaten your business, making it harder for your sales force to close deals or for your management to resolve off-hours problems. If this conundrum — access versus security — is one that keeps you up at night, then Google’s recent announcement about a new version of Android will come as welcome news. Bottom line: Android 13 is on its way, and it brings numerous security enhancements that should eliminate some of those mobile security concerns. Here’s what you need to know as a business leader. Better IT Admin Controls The first big update is a little nerdy, but it’s an important one. Android 13 brings more robust admin controls to business devices running the OS. If your team members have work phones, your IT admin will be able to monitor security logs more efficiently an...

Ever wondered if your apps are spying on you? Now you can find out The last few years have been more than a little complicated for your business (and your employees). If you’re like most businesses in the Hendersonville and Asheville area, you have more people working remotely than you did in 2019, whether that means full-time remote, local but at-home, or a hybrid schedule with some days in the office and some days at home. Another element that’s changed is how your employees expect to access your company’s resources. They want to use whatever device is most convenient — and that isn’t always the laptop you issued them. Even on that company laptop, you have employees that want to use apps that aren’t an official part of your IT plan. And some of the apps they want to use could be creating security risks for your business. Employees Want More Control; Many Don’t Follow Guidelines Here’s a general life principle that shows up in your business: people don’t like being controlled or told ...