ASI Archive newsletter, Dec 2017

The ASI Archive

DECEMBER 2017

MAY YOUR HOLIDAYS BE MERRY & BRIGHT!

Taking Inventory

 

We’re almost at year’s end and I’m taking inventory — both personal and professional. I’m thinking about the people I’m thankful for, what’s gone well, and what could’ve gone better. It’s also a time for me to focus on what I can do to improve in 2018 as a husband, father, friend and business owner.

How about you? As 2017 winds down, are you thinking about resolutions for the new year? Have you already begun to make a list of actions you’ll take to do something differently to better yourself in 2018. Why not extend this to your business? To get you started, we’ve put together a few RIM business resolutions for the new year.

I encourage you to take a little time from your busy December to reflect on 2017 and to jot down a few “fresh start” resolutions for 2018. Most of all, I wish you much happiness and good health this holiday season and into the New Year.

happy holidays


HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Friday, December. 22: Closing at 12:00 noon
Monday, December 25: Closed
Monday, January 1: Closed

New Year's Resolutions to Help Protect Your RIM Business

Making a backup…checking it twice.
You’re in the business of managing your clients’ information. You’re probably even advising them on best practices. Ensure you’re providing that same level of accountability for your RIM business. This means having a solid data backup plan in place, testing it regularly, and checking to ensure the data is being successfully backed up. It’s critical, especially given today’s cyber-security threats. 

Prepare for more ransomware attacks.
Unfortunately, we aren’t expecting ransomware attacks to decrease in 2018. If anything, it’s predicted that cyber criminals will be even more resourceful, finding more ways to hold your data hostage so keep those backups in place and be sure you’re regularly testing them. 

Safety from top to bottom
Humans are typically the weakest link when it comes to computer processes. This is especially true for cyber threats. It underscores how important it is that any employee who uses a computer or digital device undergoes cyber security training. The United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre lays out 10 steps you can take to educate staff on how to prevent online threats.

ASI Santa Allen Bostwick

From Software to Santa

ASI software developer Allen Bostwick believes in giving back. Each Christmas, Allen dons the red suit and makes his way to a nearby church where a friend manages the preschool and children’s programs. Following their annual Christmas show, the kids are invited to enjoy refreshments and most importantly, to see Santa and share what’s on their holiday wish lists. 

If you’re wondering…Yes, the beard is real! Allen spends all year growing it so he’ll be “Santa ready” at the holidays!

Tech Tip: Oops! Microsoft's done it again.

Last month’s Tech Tip provided instructions to help resolve Excel issues in VCK-SQL created by a recent Microsoft Windows update. Well, it looks like Microsoft’s done it again. If you’ve installed the latest Windows 10 creators update, you might’ve discovered it isn’t playing nicely with Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC). The specific issue is that WMDC will not open after the update is installed. Luckily, the fix is pretty simple.

Open command prompt as administrator and run the next two lines in order:

  • REG ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RapiMgr /v SvcHostSplitDisable /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
  • REG ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WcesComm /v SvcHostSplitDisable /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

You will need to reboot the PC for the change to take effect.

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