Blue Ridge Technology

Don’t sleep on this simple, effective security booster Microsoft is making waves once again with some of its customers with a security change. We think it’s a good one — in fact, we think every business should implement this change anywhere they can. Here’s what you need to know, both about the specific change in requirements for some Microsoft users and for why your business should make the switch regardless of whether you’re technically required. What’s Changing: Azure Accounts Must Switch to MFA Microsoft is changing the way Azure users will log into their accounts . Eventually every Azure product will require all accounts to log in using multi-factor authentication, or MFA. MFA is a more secure method of authenticating, or logging into an account. Instead of providing just a username and password combination, logging in using MFA requires an additional factor (method) of authentication (establishing that you are who you claim to be and that you are authorized to use the account you...

Microsoft takes the pain out of updates If you’ve been a Windows user for a few upgrade cycles, you may know that Microsoft has made quite a few changes to the way it issues updates to its operating system. Many of us remember the bad old days when the dreaded Windows Update meant no more work was happening for hours — and that’s assuming the update was installed successfully! When one failed, well— it wasn’t good. Around a decade ago, Microsoft started working on fixing the problems that contributed to “Windows Update dread,” making updates less bulky and time-consuming. Now the company is changing the way it updates Windows once more, and this time it’s good news. Still, any change to the way your business’s computers operate is a big deal. Here’s what you need to know. The (Old) Problem with Windows Updates Back in the day, those massive Windows Updates were problematic in all sorts of ways. Because they were so big, they took forever to download (and even longer to actually install...

Lost for words? Draft with Copilot can help Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft’s business version of those generative AI tools (think ChatGPT and DALL-E and the like) that can seemingly create something out of nothing — or close to it. Now, the next big Copilot feature is here. It’s called Draft with Copilot, and it has the potential to help some users save time and even improve their writing in ways that go beyond what we’ve seen before. Here’s what you need to know about this new feature — what it is, where to access it, and what it can (and can’t) do. Draft with Copilot Is Part of Microsoft Edge (or Is Coming Soon) Let’s start with where to find this new capability: it’s right there in your browser. (Probably.) First, you have to be using Microsoft Edge to benefit from this one. Sorry, Chrome aficionados! Second, it’s a question of timing and permissions. Depending on when you’re reading this and how up to date your browser and OS is, you may already have access to Draft with Copilot. I...

Heads up: You need to update Windows 11 by this deadline If your business is running on Windows 11, there’s a critically important deadline coming up in just a few weeks. Here’s what you need to know and the steps you need to take. PSA: Update All Workstations Running Windows 11 by October 8 By October 8, 2024, every PC in your organization running Windows 11 must be updated to the latest major version (called 23H2). Why? Because that’s the last day Microsoft will support their previous two releases (21H2 and 22H2). To be clear, your out-of-date Windows will continue to run. It’s not like Microsoft is flipping a switch and rendering those older versions nonfunctional. The problem is that Microsoft won’t be supporting them anymore post-10/8. If you stick with those older versions, you could be opening yourself up to countless security vulnerabilities in the months and years to come. What Is Windows 11 23H2? Windows 11 23H2 is the mainstream update to Windows 11 that released in the seco...

Have you updated to the latest version of Windows 11 yet? If not, it’s time to act – Microsoft has announced when it will end support for older versions (and it’s soon!). Usually when people talk about digital threats to businesses, they focus on certain types of threats, like credential theft, ransomware, business email compromise, and malware. Those are all important threats that businesses need to defend against, but there’s another related type that doesn’t get enough coverage: cyber extortion. What Is Cyber Extortion? Cyber extortion is a malicious practice where criminals gain access to your organization’s data and then extort you with it, threatening to release it publicly or take some other action with it that will compromise your business or harm your reputation (or both). Usually this type of attack includes a request for ransom in exchange for not releasing your data or harming your organization. How Is Cyber Extortion Different Than Ransomware? Compromising your business an...

Have you heard of cyber extortion? It’s a very real threat to your business. Our latest tech update video explains what it is and how to stay safe. Does your work PC feel slower than it used to? Do your team members complain about sluggish computers that take forever to boot up, or that lock up once they’re running with no explanation? Before you sign off on a costly upgrade cycle, it’s worth exploring whether the PCs are truly too old and slow — or whether they can keep serving you well with some small adjustments. There’s one small move that can make a serious difference in your PC’s performance, so we always recommend trying it before moving on to more expensive solutions like replacing your entire fleet of desktops and laptops. Here’s what you need to know about why PCs seem to slow down — and how cleaning up your startup folder can turn things around. Do PCs Slow Down As They Age? There’s a notion out there that says our computers get slower the longer we use them. Some even go so...

Is the sound of yet another Teams notification about to drive you crazy? A new update will put a stop to that… and it’ll help you prioritize your tasks too. Our tech update has the details. Microsoft Teams does a lot for us: it’s a communication hub, video meeting tool, collaborative space for teams, an instant messenger, and a lot more. But we’d be lying to you if we called it a perfect application. There’s still plenty about Microsoft Teams that could use some refining or some polish. One of these things has been a frustrating inability to customize sound notifications — until now. No, this isn’t massively groundbreaking news. But for many Teams users, it’s still a big deal. Here’s what to know about the latest Teams update and how it can improve your workday quality of life. Notifications Now Have Multiple Sound Options If you work with headphones on, chances are you like to get into the flow of work. You might even listen to music or background sounds (we’re beach waves people!) to...