Blue Ridge Technology

3 essential security tools for every business Cybersecurity never stops moving — because neither do the attackers and digital threats that could hamper or even bring down your business. It’s easy for cybersecurity policies, procedures, and technology to get complicated in a hurry. And it can be enough to cause small business leaders to throw their hands up in frustration. If you need advanced cybersecurity protections, we’re here to help. But sometimes it’s smart to get back to basics, and that’s what we’re doing in this week’s post. Below are three basic security tools that every digitally connected small business must have in place. Do you have all three of these, and are they working the way you’d like? 1. A Firewall (or a Secure Web Gateway, or Both) The first line of defense for most businesses is a firewall. A firewall is a piece of hardware that sits as a gatekeeper of sorts between your network and the broader internet. The name comes from the analog equivalent: a thick, firepr...

A little trust can go a long way If you’re like many business owners, the way work gets done has changed — most likely, for good. You probably have employees that work from home some or all of the time now, and you almost certainly have more of them than you did in the idyllic old days of 2019. In many ways, this shift is a good thing— but that’s not what we want to talk about today. Instead, we want to talk about how managers and business leaders can effectively manage employees and measure their work in this new mix of remote, hybrid, and in-person. Whether you love the change or hate it, the best ways to manage people look a little different than they used to. Here are a few quick tips on managing remote and hybrid employees in a way that gives you the information you need without driving your people crazy. Trust or Verify? Much of the disagreement or confusion surrounding management techniques in the new normal comes down to whether and how much managers can or should trust their t...

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...