IT Horizons Blog

You’ve probably heard of Cryptolocker. It’s the nefarious ransomware trojan targeting Microsoft Windows that made the rounds via email starting in 2013-2014 that locked businesses out of their own files by encrypting them and holding them hostage. It impacted many – including Grande Prairie organizations that you know and may do business with! Cryptolocker and its many ransomware cousins act like typical viruses in the way they’re spread and distributed. But what makes ransomware so dangerous to you and your business is the fact that it specifically targets corporate data for monetary gain and the results can be catastrophic for those whose network is unprepared and inadequately protected from such an attack. Ransomware works by encrypting and locking you out of the files on your computers, server, and network storage. These files could include your policies and procedures, sensitive contracts and agreements, or your accounting database and financials. The attackers...

We all rely on tech to help run our business, and it’s great when it’s running smoothly, but it can be horrible and expensive when it isn’t. Hiring the right tech company to look after your technology will keep your systems functioning effortlessly, and can make the difference between just surviving and powering ahead in full growth mode! What to look for: A good IT firm will start by having a consultant sit down with your leadership team to listen and learn all about your business before recommending anything. They should provide unlimited computer support to you and your staff for a fixed monthly fee. A technology strategy plan will be offered and created for your business, with at least one year planned. Every business is different and has different technological needs. A custom tech solution is part of every successful business. Experience! Hire an IT company that has experience...

Folders suck at making your data and documents easily searchable and they’re slowing your business down. That’s a pretty bold statement isn’t it? After all, file folders have been used since the early days of enterprise to store documents and information, why all of the sudden do they suck? I’m going to answer that for you with a quickly conjured example of your typical folder, letting you down when you need it the most. I’ve always thought accounting was sort of a neat field, so I’m going to create a fake accounting firm called ‘Horizons Accounting and Bookkeeping Company’ (HABCO). Here is what a folder structure for a company such as HABCO might look like. You can see we have: Duplicate sub-folders such as invoices, taxes and year end. A complicated amount of folder/subfolder nesting. Folders are containers. They describe what is inside of them. The invoices folder holds invoices, straightforward...

You know you need technology to run your business, but you don’t know where to start, or don’t have the time or money to do it. You're not techy and your company is behind in the technology realm. Just getting your office printer, or your email to work is a challenge. Investing in technology, learning new software, getting new computers and a network means learning new processes and it seems terrifying. It doesn’t have to be, it can be simple when you hire the right IT team to help take your business to the next level! The days of keeping customer information in paper phone books, and invoicing by paper are long gone. You need technology to get things done, to keep your client information safe, and to get systemized. Before investing in the latest-and-greatest gadget that promises to turn you into a computer whiz and make your business the...

Modernize your business You’ve got big plans. That’s why you need technology that can grow alongside with you, offering power, agility, and protection, all the while giving you the freedom to work how you and your team work best. ModernBiz: Making technology a business advantage With Microsoft and Office 365, you can choose your own path to becoming a modern business with flexible, complete, and trusted solutions. Office 365 offers a range of opportunities to reduce costs, embrace the cloud, and use powerful business-ready tools across desktops, laptops, and mobile devices. Everything you need to get your job done is in front of you and accessible from wherever the day takes you. And because it’s Microsoft, you gain peace of mind knowing that everything works together seamlessly and provides the security you need to protect your business. ModernBiz gives you the ability to: Grow efficiently with Office 365. Take advantage...