Blog
The Dangers of Auto-Updating Software
In a business IT environment, the issue of software upgrades is far more important than for virtually every consumer. There are many reasons for this. One is simply the sheer number of computers that need to be upgraded, meaning that an upgrade error will affect hundreds or even thousands of users. Another is the impact […]
The Benefits of a Customer Relation Management System
Customer relations is one of the most important aspects of a business in the global marketplace. Even on a local scale, the difference between wooing local customers and having them go to the guy next door is one of how customers feel you have brought any problems to a successful resolution. That said, the idea […]
Potential Pitfalls of Cloud Computing
Many small businesses have discovered the use of cloud computing, which refers to the use of off-site servers to store data, as opposed to just having it on your own computer’s hard drive or on your own network’s servers. Many of us were using the cloud before it was called that by creating online accounts […]
Find Friends (And Customers) With Geolocation
Geolocation refers to the process of determining the location of a computer, a piece of networking equipment or a device. It usually uses Global Position Satellites (GPS) in order to determine the geographical location of the computer or device. GPS is built into most smartphones, and there are many apps taking advantage of geolocation to […]
Hackers Target Drug Company Secrets
It is no secret that hackers, the bad kind, seem to be everywhere. From local businesses trying to spy on their competitors to international peepers from anonymous foreign countries, every business and personal computer is under attack. In most cases, the goal is obtaining information for sale, whether it is to be sold on the […]
LastPass Falls To The Hacking Community
It seems that no security company is safe from hackers as LastPass finds itself among the recent high profile hacks. If you’re not sure what LastPass is, it’s a secure password service. You generate a Master Password, and use it to securely store all your other passwords. It’s convenient, because it leaves you only having to […]
The Eyes Have It: The Rise of Biometric Banking
To increase the security of transactions and build trust with customers, the use of biometrics is growing as an identification tool for banks worldwide. The banking industry is under increasing pressure to develop protocols to minimize the possibility of fraud and identity theft because of the constant evolution of the technologies that are now being […]
Why Hacking Is a Great Danger to Small Business
It may come as a surprise to many, but the source of most small business data breaches – about 80 percent – come from employees who either violate protocol or misuse their access privileges and use company computers for personal use. More than one of the data breaches that have made the news involve an […]
Why Improving Security Is Difficult For Enterprise
It’s no secret, in the Data Security vs. Hacker war, the hackers are winning. Every year, we see more and more data breaches occurring on an ever larger and grander scale. Every year, we hear about how companies are taking steps to better secure their data and the data their customers share with them, but […]
What Small Businesses Should Know About Content Marketing
Useful, targeted content marketing needs to be part of any small business’s strategy. Becoming knowledgeable about content marketing is key for the small business owner, and learning how to make the most of your efforts online and on social media will reap benefits now and into the future. Determine Where Your Customers Look For Content […]
A Visionary Approach to Your Security
The purpose of an IT partner isn’t just to fix something when it is broken, it is to keep your people working and your data secure. Astral moves beyond traditional managed services by addressing all the key areas of cybersecurity in today’s complex landscape.
