April Monthly Update - 20 April 2023
Welcome to the latest edition of our monthly technology newsletter. In this edition, we bring you some of the latest news and trends in the world of technology.
Hello from the team @ Technology Tree
Welcome to the autumn edition of our monthly newsletter! As the leaves start to fall and the temperatures cool down in Australia, we're here to bring you the latest tech news and updates to keep you warm and cozy.
Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a professional in the industry, or simply curious about the latest gadgets and innovations, our newsletter is designed to bring you valuable and informative content that will help you stay ahead of the curve.
To keep up to date with what’s happening in the IT world on a regular basis, follow Technoloy Tree on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Uprise of Offshore Employees
Offshore employees have been on the rise in recent years, driven by advancements in technology and the growing demand for skilled workers in various industries.
However, there are also risks associated with offshore employees, particularly related to technology. Remote workers may be accessing company data and systems from unsecured networks or devices, which can increase the risk of cyber attacks and data breaches.
To mitigate these risks, companies must have robust security measures in place to protect their data and systems, as well as clear communication and collaboration protocols for remote teams. With the right strategies and safeguards in place, offshore employees can be a valuable asset to companies.
If you are concerned about offshore risks and want to learn more about how to protect your business, reach out to our office.
Windows 11 Version 21H2
Windows 11 H2 is a significant update that provides users with several new features and improvements to the Windows 11 operating system. It demonstrates Microsoft's ongoing commitment to improving its flagship operating system and providing users with the best possible experience.
Are you running Windows 11 H2, the latest release of the Windows operating system? If you are proactively managed by Technology Tree, then you will either have it already or it’s in progress for deployment seamlessly.
If you are not, then it may be that you are on our legacy PAYG plan and will need advice on this, or it could be that you are running old hardware. Anything older than 4 years+ is open to security vulnerabilities and is leaving your business susceptible to data breach, malware and worse still… ransomware attack from the hardware vendor.
Just like your phone, you need to keep it up to date, supported and running on good hardware as most vendors have limited hardware and software support.
Visual Refresh Preview
Microsoft 365 has a fresh look. It's modern and new, designed to help you focus on your best work. MS has applied Fluent Design principles to deliver an intuitive, coherent, and familiar experiences across all your Microsoft 365 apps in Windows.
Preview the visual refresh and let us know what you think. You'll still be able to go back to the old look until Microsoft turn on the visual refresh for everyone.
In Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote, just open the Coming Soon pane from the megaphone icon in the upper right next to your name. You can read more about the visual refresh changes here.
Cyber safety checklist for small business owners
Protecting your systems from cyber security threats is essential. There are some simple things you can do to keep your business and client data safe from cybercriminals.
Here are top 5 tips to keep your data safe:
1. Install all software and app updates. Using an outdated version of software can leave the door open for cybercriminals to access your devices.
2. Turn on automatic updates. This can reduce the risk of missing out on important updates. And it takes the stress out of remembering to manually update your devices.
3. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible. MFA combines 2 or more security measures such as a fingerprint, password or physical token to protect your accounts.
4. Use strong passphrases that are difficult to guess. Long, unpredictable and unique phrases are difficult for cybercriminals to crack.
5. Teach yourself and your staff how to prevent, recognise and report cyber incidents. The Australian Cyber Security CentreExternal Link has fantastic resources that explain how to put cyber safety measures in place.
Check out other top cyber security tips for businesses for more ways to secure your devices.
REMINDER!
Windows Users
With the new Windows 11 22H2 being released, our managed clients will see this automatically flow through for update in the coming days. Service desk is available to assist with pushing down the update for all others.
Patch Tuesday: Microsoft regularly releases software patches usually every second Tuesday of every month for its software products. Please make sure you apply and restart your computer this week to have these updates applied to your device. For those of you who we managed under a service agreement we will be monitoring and will be in touch if they’re not being applied.
How to update: Allow yourself at least 10 – 15 minutes to fully shutdown and restart your system. This ensures patches are applied, this can also address (and solve) some problems you may be having with your system. You can also manually check by following steps that can be found here.
Apple Users
Mac users: the latest version of macOS is 13.3.1
iPhone users: the latest version of iOS is 16.4.1
iPad users: the latest version of iPadOS is 16.4.1
Apple TV users: The latest version of tvOS is 16.4.1
Apple Watch users: The latest version of watchOS is 9.4
Did you know, second -hand electronic equipment, if not properly disposed of, can have negative impacts on the environment and contribute to landfill waste?
This is why we Why Buy It New exists. With ever-changing technology, too many IT items are ending up in landfill. Our aim is to reduce waste and reuse where possible.
Take advantage of our Pre-June 30 sale and get 10% off our already reduced stock of new and refurbished IT equipment for your home, office or for the kids.
🖥️ www.whybuyitnew.com.au
🛒 Checkout code: PREJUN30SALE
When you shop with us, you're doing your bit for the world.
That's all for this month's technology newsletter. We hope you found this information useful and informative. If you have any questions or suggestions for future newsletters, please feel free to contact us.
Office: +61 8 6161 7113
Email: servicedesk@techtree.com.au
For any after-hours support (charges may apply), please contact Derek Stewart directly on +61 412 000 063.