SJBiz_OfficeSpace_0919_Layout 1 9 / 19 / 19 4 : 21 PM Page 2 OFFICE QUICK TAKE SPACE Technologyer Takeov ECHNOLOGY IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING , AND IT ISN’T ALWAYS A GOOD THING FOR TYOUR BUSINESS . Protecting your company from malware is something that should be at or near the top of your list , along with cleaning up your business , especially with a new season upon us — scheduling as - sessments of your computer networks and properly training your employees on security awareness . Two technology experts offer ways to protect you , your employees and your business . Arthur Leiby owner , president THE LEREPCO IT GROUP Protect and dry everything out As summer transitions into autumn , our heightened awareness for school buses , layers of clothes , flu shots , vehicle maintenance and overall protection kicks in . Have you scheduled the NetCheck Health assessment of your computer network , business technology and end - users ? A netcheck will audit your network and identify vulnerabil - ities that could leave your organization at risk of a busi - ness interruption . Does anyone work from home , use a work cell phone , store unencrypted passwords on the computer , phone or desktop ? Do you employ temporary workers , share files , social media or access pictures online ? You can minimize your risks by training your employees with ongoing security awareness and proper end - user training . It may cost you upfront initially , but it will be worth the peace of mind . Pruning trees and shrubs The pruning of a fruit tree is very important , which involves the cutting and removing of the selected parts to benefit the whole tree . Cutting off one allows the other branch to grow and become the dominant branch . Microsoft states , “ every Windows product has a lifecycle . ” The end of the Windows 7 lifecycle is set for January 2020 . Microsoft can block support for any machine at any time , so Windows 7 users should be prepared . In preparation of the change in season , take the time now and review your current system . Clean tools and store properly The must - do project of cleaning , oiling and storing away tools can be daunting . Remembering and keeping pass - words stored safely are a challenge and can have adverse consequences if the devices are hacked . Many of us also have bad password creation habits . Using your name , address , kids ’ names , birthdates or other personal info could be gleaned from your Facebook page and expose you to unnecessary risk . Using a password manager can be a viable alternative . A few advantages to using one : They are convenient and can be accessed from all your devices . Password managers will help you set and store the assorted characters , cases and digits that many secure sites are asking for these days . With a password manager , you’ll only have to remember one ‘ master ’ password . You can change hundreds of passwords within seconds due to a security breach . 12 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | VOLUME 9 ISSUE 9 | SouthJerseyBiz.net