SCOJA Technology Services

12/04/2022

https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/specialsections/hackers-will-get-smarter-in-2023-but-cybersecurity-talent-will-be-harder-t/ For 2023, Scott Blumin, principal with Scoja Technology services in San Rafael, recommends preparing a risk management business continuity plan. “Such plans p...

12/04/2022

https://www.scoja.com/post/scoja-in-the-north-bay-business-journal

For 2023, Scott Blumin, principal with Scoja Technology services in San Rafael, recommends preparing a risk management business continuity plan.

“Such plans protect valuable assets including staff, data, customers and the firm’s reputation,” Blumin said. “The key is ensuring that everyone at the business is familiar with the plan and their role(s) in it. IT managers should take time to review the plan with staff at least twice a year.”

Handing that off solely to a vendor or managed service provider, isn’t the only answer because the vendor might be obligated only to do what’s in the agreement.

“Every team needs a strategic IT professional or technology program manager serving as a tech quarterback,” Blumin said. “A person who is aligned with company goals and has technology, security, compliance and business knowledge can ensure that the firm’s infrastructure stays up, on time and within budget, while also offering tech improvement suggestions for senior leadership.”

For example, it is not uncommon to have 30 or more devices connected at home, Blumin said. Those include computers, smartphones, tablet computers, smart devices (for music, video and TV), surveillance cameras and other security-centric devices.

“Without someone on staff who understands a firm’s home and business technology connections and security needs exposes an employer to data and financial loss, identity theft and more,” Blumin said.

https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/specialsections/hackers-will-get-smarter-in-2023-but-cybersecurity-talent-will-be-harder-t/ For 2023, Scott Blumin, principal with Scoja Technology services in San Rafael, recommends preparing a risk management business continuity plan. “Such plans p...

06/11/2021

New HP laptop for clients. Came with luggage tag /USB key taped to laptop box with no instructions or description. Was this a gift, a scam, or ? Kind of a cybersecurity no-no. If you know anything, let us know too. Didn't find anything with a quick Google search.

06/30/2020

Do you love the keyboard or do you love the sound of your own voice? Maybe the two of you are in sweet harmony.

Ode to Dragon Naturally Speaking- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_NaturallySpeaking
In 1997 Dragon Naturally Speaking 1.0 came out. I witnessed several clients that couldn't use a keyboard anymore due to carpal-tunnel successfully use this app through the years to do all of their work. I am a believer.

Left turn -- Clearly, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and other 'electronic ears' have entered our homes on a personal level and know everything. They can hear us go to the bathroom, eat dinner, and curse in our sleep. We are fairly comfortable 'talking' to them too. A budding relationship.

Fast Forward -- 2012, iPhone and Android phones include a dictation feature. WSJ writes about it. Did you use it?

5 years forward -- In 2017, the Wall Street Journal wrote about the 'end of typing' and the rise of 'Voice' as inputs to the systems we use. I am not seeing this.

Present-day -- What about voice in business?

Do you 'Talk' your texts to clients, 'Dictate' to Microsoft Word, 'Ask' Google industry-specific questions, "Turn On' automated transcription services available with Zoom and others. Some of these use cases will save serious time, and could lead to additional product offerings too.

Personally, I see some of the best voice use cases for those who don't know how to type well, have an industry-specific voice app to use, or those that have hand/wrist pain when using a keyboard. With that said -- It's not all or nothing, a hybrid approach also works well - use the right tool for the right job.

Next time you are working on a project, ask yourself, "Will using my voice help me get my work done faster, more accurately, or with fewer people?

What are some of your experiences with voice productivity apps in your workplace?

Dragon NaturallySpeaking (also known as Dragon for PC, or DNS)[1] is a speech recognition software package developed by Dragon Systems of Newton, Massachusetts, which was acquired first by Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products and later by Nuance Communications, formerly known as ScanSoft. It runs on Wi...

03/20/2020

As a family man and business owner, I have coached, consulted, and serviced hundreds of people & businesses in good times and bad over the past 20 years, most of this time spent working from a remote office. I would like to offer the following personal and professional thoughts on inviting new ideas into your mind during these early days of the Coronavirus shelter-in-place orders:

Are you normally more of a task list completion expert and less of a planner? Pause, look up, take a breath, look ahead. Relax mind and muscle. This is your time to retool. Break patterns. Quickly build new habits.

Most of us have been forced to eliminate the extras from our life. We are overnight minimalists. Opulence is frowned upon. Simplification is becoming more normal each day. This C-19 change event is a window to the future.

A rich opportunity has been provided. The opportunity to wonder why. Why me? Why us? Why now? We can then move on to what and how. What went wrong and how do I make it better? How do I add more to my life but still keep it manageable & simple?

Do not rush to "fix" what has gone wrong. We all see massive change ahead but don't know where we need to focus or how to position ourselves for survival and success. Reimagining yourself, if nothing stood in your way, would you choose to make any changes?

Take the time to think and appreciate what has shifted in the past couple of weeks. Think of the industries affected and then apply the lens of change inward - What has changed? Have you changed? What do you want to change personally and professionally? Do your new ideas build on or reveal anything new within you?

The time to act is when you have a plan. Take the time to clarify your goals. How do you decide which of those goals you would like to work on first? Assign priority to them. This is all part of creating a simple one-page business plan that provides the structure to achieve your goals.

Work the plan, keep it simple. Reserve specific times each day to work on the highest priority items. ALSO, reserve specific times for planning time each week -- Continually evaluate your top priorities.

After C-19 is long gone, will you be traveling in the same mental and physical circles? Make the right call - Don't wait and wonder -- get ahead of the change curve with ideas, decisions, and action.

If I can help you get started with creating a plan, or if you have other ideas you'd like to share, please reach out.

08/27/2019

Cyberattacks cost businesses millions each year, and employees are the weak point. Here’s how to educate them about cyberattacks and protecting your business.

08/18/2019

Ransomware can impact the operations of any organization. Find out how to protect yourself from ransomware attacks.

08/16/2019

How to Choose the Right App for CEO Online Journaling Learn why many business leaders turn to journaling to build their brand and improve their leadership skills and see what features the top applications offer. When you want to establish your own personal and professional brand online, using an onl...

08/02/2019

Will Your Business Be Impacted by the End of Microsoft Exchange 2010? Exchange 2010 has been a great program for businesses for many years, but its time is now winding down. Find out what this means for your business. All good things must come to an end. For Microsoft Exchange 2010, that end will ha...

08/02/2019

The Rise of MarTech: Navigating the Intersection of Marketing and Technology Is your organization struggling with the intersection of marketing and technology? If so, you’re not alone — marketers everywhere are. There is a crisis in boardrooms and offices around the world: who owns marketing tec...

08/02/2019

Digital Disruption Forces Businesses to Rethink Staffing Strategy See how rapid technological advances are revolutionizing how companies approach the structure of their workforces and new strategies for employee recruitment. The remarkable pace of digital transformation has changed how businesses op...

07/30/2019

The cloud may still feel like a new technology – but in reality, it’s been around for more than 10 years now. Does that make you feel old? Let’s be clear about something – the cloud is here to stay. In recent years you may have still heard the occasional “industry insider” suggest that t...