Blue Ridge Technology

3 ways AI makes almost any business task easier Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and others have made huge waves over the past year, and for good reason. These tools can do some really cool stuff. A lot of the viral headline type applications aren’t particularly useful for business. It’s cool that ChatGPT can write a Shakespearean sonnet about microwaves, but it’s probably not going to change your daily routine. But some professionals are finding novel and tremendously helpful ways to use these tools. This week, we’ll show you three ways you might start leveraging these tools in your daily business routines and workflows. One Big Caveat Now all of this comes with one gigantic caveat: ChatGPT isn’t sentient. That means you shouldn’t trust it to make decisions or give advice that would be obvious to humans. Just like you wouldn’t take Siri or Alexa’s responses as gospel truth, you shouldn’t assume everything in generative AI responses is completely accurate or actionable. T...

Is this the ultimate browser for business? Microsoft is out with another new business-friendly tool: Edge for Business . It may not be the most dramatic, awe-inspiring name for a new piece of software, but it’s a pretty significant development — one that could be a big help to your business, in the right circumstances. So what is Microsoft Edge for Business? And what are the reasons a business should — or shouldn’t — switch? What is Microsoft Edge for Business? Microsoft Edge for Business is pretty much what it sounds like: it’s a version of Microsoft’s Edge web browser, but built specifically for business customers rather than at-home consumers. Benefits of Switching to Edge for Business Edge for Business delivers a lot of value in the right circumstances. Here are a few exclusive features or benefits you’ll have access to if you switch. Separation between Work and Personal Browsing One of the big new features is a “wall of separation” between personal and work browsing. With an incre...

The hidden dangers of free VPNs: Are you at risk? Do you use a VPN to keep your data secure when browsing the web? Or does your business use one as part of its access management plan? Even if you’re not sure, the answer to that second question might be “yes”: Many businesses pivoted to VPNs during COVID as a quick and relatively safe way for people to access server resources from home. If you’re using a VPN, whether for personal or professional reasons, the thinking goes that you’re a whole lot safer and more secure because of it. But it turns out not all VPNs are created equal, and some of them might be doing the opposite of keeping you safe. Here’s what you need to know about using VPNs, including what to watch out for if you do. What Is a VPN? The acronym VPN stands for “virtual private network.” It’s a way of connecting your computer to an online resource by way of another connection point. Virtual private networks act as a middleman for internet or network traffic: instead of a c...

Scary stat: 87% of businesses hit by this in the last year Do you interact with customers via the web? Do you sell products online? If so, you’re technically a web-based business (even if you have lots and lots of “offline” business too). And you need to know about this scary statistic from the previous year. CDNetworks performed a massive analysis of more than 45 billion cyberattack attempts during 2022. Its findings were both sobering and encouraging. But let’s start with this 87%. Based on the title alone, would you think we’re about to say 87% of businesses faced an attempted cyberattack in 2022? Good guess, and we wish that was all. But no: CDNetworks found that 87% of web-based businesses faced two or more cyber threats at the same time ! What’s worse, 65% encountered “three or more simultaneous threats.” If you think your business is immune to cyberattack attempts, think again. Now let’s get into the data and figure out what all this means for you. Good News: Billions of Attack...

This is the latest trend in phishing attacks If you use Microsoft Outlook as your email service at work, you’ve probably noticed a weird quirk it has. Most of the time, if an email has an image in it, Outlook automatically blocks that image from loading. It tends to make fancy emails look broken, and it’s easy to bypass (usually you can load the images in just a click or two). Have you ever wondered what this image blocking business was all about? Turns out Microsoft has a good reason to do this. And the attack they’re trying to protect against is on the rise again. Here’s what you need to know about how seemingly innocent images can be used to attack your company and steal your data. Why Outlook Blocks Images So why does Outlook block those images? Well, it’s not just trying to ruin the look of every single marketing email you receive. It’s trying to keep you safe. There are two main ways that images could do damage: tracking pixels and bad links. Tracking pixels Images in email can d...

Browse with confidence: Microsoft Edge’s security boost If your organization uses PCs, chances are someone (maybe even everyone) is using Microsoft Edge. That’s the new default web browser in Windows 10 and 11, so unless you’ve opted for something else (like Chrome or Firefox), you’re probably using it. Microsoft has made two recent changes to Edge that we think you need to know about. One of them is a very good thing, while the other? Let’s just say we’re turning that one off around here. Here’s what you need to know. The Good: Microsoft Edge’s Enhanced Security Mode First up is something we’re excited about: Microsoft Edge now has an enhanced security mode that we think is perfect for most businesses. This new enhancement is still being rolled out and tested, so you might not see it yet. But if and when you do, we think turning it on makes a whole lot of sense. This new security mode puts in place extra protections and adapts dynamically based on your browsing habits. If you’re on l...

RIP Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2012 Is Almost Dead. Here’s What You Need to Know. Microsoft recently announced that two of its most popular business products, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2, are reaching end-of-life status. That’s a big deal if you’re still using Windows Server 2012 anywhere in your business. In today’s post we’ll explain what this end of support announcement means, what the implications are for your team, and what you need to do in the next couple of months. Windows Server 2012 Reaching End of Support: What It Means First up, what does this announcement mean? Simply put: on October 10, 2023, Microsoft will no longer support Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2. That means that if something goes wrong, Microsoft will not help you anymore. Of course, servers running this OS went out of warranty years ago—so what we’re really talking about is if something goes wrong in the OS itself . Every piece of software and operating system has fla...