What Is vCIO, and Is it Valuable to Your Company?

If you’ve ever worked with a Managed Services Provider (MSP), you’ve probably heard the term “vCIO.” “What does that mean?” you might have wondered. You might have been told that the “v” stands for “virtual,” and CIO stands for “Chief Information Officer”—the position in a corporate environment responsible for aligning technology strategy with business strategy. The idea is that, with the MSP, your business will have a virtual CIO – someone to provide strategic technology consulting.

But not all vCIO services are created equal. Just because two MSPs both offer vCIO, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can expect the same thing from both of them. The right kind of vCIO service is truly valuable. But, in some cases, it doesn’t amount to much more than project sales pitches.

Read More

Two Opportunities to Hear Sean Wright Speak on Cyber Security!

Two Opportunities to Hear Sean Wright Speak on Cyber Security!

This month, Sean Wright, Affinity’s President and Founder is speaking at two cyber security events that are open to the public. On March 6th, Sean will speak at a SCORE Network event titled “Cyber Security for Small Business: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” held at the Pathway Women’s Business Center. And on March 15th, Sean will join a panel of experts for an seminar titled “Real-World Cyber Security” at Pinnacle Financial Partners’ Brentwood office. Information and registration for both events can be found below.

Read More

3 Hidden IT Costs, and What You Can Do About Them

When you think of your company’s IT costs, what comes to mind? Odds are, hardware and software top the list, as well as the costs of IT support, like salary and benefits for in-house staff or fees for an outsourced IT provider. These costs are easy to quantify and predict. The problem is that they are just the tip of the iceberg. Within your organization, there may be hidden costs associated with your IT that can linger under the surface and hinder your business’s growth.

Here are three examples of hidden IT costs that many businesses face:

Read More

Meltdown and Spectre: What Your Business Needs to Know

2017 was a year of highly-publicized malware attacks and security vulnerabilities, and it appears that 2018 will be no different. You may have heard about Meltdown and Spectre—two widespread security vulnerabilities—in the news recently. But how do they affect your business, and what (if anything) can you do about it? Read our quick guide below to find out.

Read More

10 Tech Tips for Growing Your Business in 2018

For many business owners, a new year sparks renewed focus on putting ideas into action that will help their businesses grow.

As you sit through brainstorming sessions and consider ways to do things differently in the new year, don’t forget to pay attention to the health of your technology systems. Odds are, you rely on technology to communicate, make business decisions, and complete projects. In other words, it’s just as crucial to your success as a new hire.

Read More

What Parents Need to Know About Facebook Messenger Kids

Last week, Facebook released Messenger Kids, a version of its popular Messenger app designed specifically for kids under 13. These younger kids are technically not allowed to create full Facebook profiles, so Facebook developed Messenger Kids as a standalone app with some important parental control and safety features.

Still, while Facebook seems to have put a lot of effort into safety, some parents may feel uncomfortable with allowing their children to use this app. To help you make the best decision for your family, read on to learn what Messenger Kids does well, as well as what concerns it might still raise for some parents.

Read More

3 Safety Tips for Parents Buying Tech Gifts

3 Safety Tips for Parents Buying Tech Gifts

It’s that time of year again! Time to make your holiday shopping lists and find the best deals on gifts for friends and family. And if you’re shopping for kids and teens, there’s a good chance that a number of those gifts involve technology. From smartphones and tablets to gaming systems, kids and teens love devices that keep them connected.

As fun as these devices are, they carry hidden dangers, such as potential exposure to pornography, sexting, and cyberbullying. So, before you hit the stores on Black Friday, gift yourself peace of mind by putting healthy guardrails around the technology you give your kids this holiday season.

Read More