Windows 10 is a success but it still has problems

• By John Agsalud
• June 19, 2018

As we approach the third anniversary of the release of Windows 10, most in the industry agree that it’s been Microsoft’s most successful operating system to date. Read more

Taking the mystery out of the ‘Caller ID’ feature

• By John Agsalud
• May 22, 2018

Ever call someone on the mainland and have them tell you, “I only answered because you’re the only one with an 808 number who ever calls me”? Or worse yet, have someone tell you, “I would’ve answered if I knew it was you”? Read more

Business needs, cost factors drive when to buy hardware

• By John Agsalud
• April 24, 2018

An oft-asked question in the information technology world is “When should I buy new hardware?” After all, the promise of cloud computing is that the heavy lifting is done by someone else. Has the game changed? Read more

The downside of real-time online communication

• By John Agsalud
• March 27, 2018

In recent months, real-time online communication has become increasingly popular with businesses and government agencies. Read more

Nagging ‘feature’ introduced by Microsoft Office’s software

• By John Agsalud
• Feb. 27, 2018

In recent months, information technology professionals have been hit with complaints about lost data. Many of these issues can be traced to a new “feature” introduced by Microsoft in its flagship software application suite, Office. Read more

The do’s and don’ts of 2-factor authentication

• By John Agsalud
• Jan. 30, 2018

As more and more organizations have their systems compromised, a security method known as “two factor authentication” has become more prevalent. Read more

Reliable devices, good working space a must when telecommuting

• By John Agsalud
• Dec. 5, 2017

Of course, the most important thing when telecommuting is the “tele” component. In this case, we are talking about two things: internet connection and phone. Read more

Users must keep up when phishers get more sophisticated

• By John Agsalud
• Nov. 7, 2017

In recent weeks a spate of new phishing attacks has ensnared many unsuspecting users. Read more

Easily remember passwords using a management system

• By John Agsalud
• Oct. 10, 2017

Just a couple of years ago, our advice for managing passwords was “no worry.” Read more

Freezing credit is best way to counter Equifax breach

• By John Agsalud
• Sept. 12, 2017

Equifax revealed last week that it had been victim to a data breach affecting more than 143 million individuals. Millions of folks scrambled to figure out whether they were affected and, if so, what to do about it. Read more

Define goals and expectations before starting any IT project

• By John Agsalud
• Aug. 15, 2017

Anyone who has ever experienced an unsuccessful information technology project can attribute at least part of the failure to poor communication. Read more

Take extra care with emails talking about financial data

• By John Agsalud
• July 18, 2017

Bad guys on the internet are an increasing population. Many nefarious characters scheme to rip off big companies. In 2017 alone we have seen data breaches at government agencies, telecommunications companies, hotel chains and retailers. Read more

Calls to vendors for tech support shouldn’t be delayed

• By John Agsalud
• June 20, 2017

Even the most reliable systems experience problems that can be crippling. Of course, when the system goes down, it can cause catastrophic results to the organization. Read more

Clear communication a must for any IT project to succeed

• By John Agsalud
• April 25, 2017

Whether it’s a new system or an upgrade, hardware, software or both, even the simplest information technology acquisition can be fraught with problems. Read more

Understand what’s involved before allowing remote access

• By John Agsalud
• March 28, 2017

We’ve all been there. You’re having a problem with your computer, so you call for support. The responding technician offers to fix the problem by remotely accessing your system. Read more

Review service agreements for provisions on downtime

• By John Agsalud
• Feb. 28, 2017

With the ubiquity of cloud computing, many businesses and government agencies have contracted out critical services. Whether it’s internet access, email, collaboration or even phone services, some folks feel helpless when such a service goes down. Read more

Vigilance is best weapon in fight against ransomware

• By John Agsalud
• Jan. 31, 2017

In recent weeks a nasty form of virus has been recirculating in the business community colloquially known as “ransomware.” Read more

Modern phone systems still contain 4 basic components

• By John Agsalud
• Dec. 6, 2016

Even with the advent of email, texting, instant messaging, social media and mobile phones, most every organization still needs a phone system. The advent of VoIP (voice over IP) technology has, however, made the selection of a new phone system confusing for many. Truthfully, though, the basic principles of phone systems have not changed. Read more

Email is fallible after all, and we’d all do well to be careful

• By John Agsalud
• Oct. 11, 2016

For all of its convenience as a method of communication, email has its share of problems. This has become more evident in recent months, as it seems that many folks have forgotten some of the basic tenets of using email. Read more

Evaluate computer system before upgrading its parts

• By John Agsalud
• Sept. 13, 2016

You’ve been limping along for several months now, and finally got approval to upgrade your computer system. Take caution, though. Upgrading individual components of an architecture does not guarantee better overall system performance. Read more

Public hot spots leave users vulnerable to hack attacks

• By John Agsalud
• Aug. 16, 2016

More and more we hear stories of folks being victimized by hackers who steal information seemingly out of thin air. The good news is that there are a few things the average Joe can do to minimize his exposure to such dangers. Read more