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As school goes back into session for students, we've got our minds on education. Education is an important part of a robust cybersecurity strategy--the most common cause for breaches is human error, but training has been shown to work effectively as a security defense! If you would like information or resources, contact Facet. We offer phishing simulations, literature, and more tools that can help your team stay safe from cyber attacks. For now, though, enjoy these last few weeks of summer! :)
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Out and About: Facet Team Attends Drive Out Hunger Golf Outing
Members of the Facet team recently attended ESPN Peoria's Drive Out Hunger Golf Outing benefiting the Peoria Area Food Bank. We are excited to support the Food Bank's work in the Peoria Area! Pictured above, from left to right: Matt Ghiglieri, Chris Knisley, Jason Hahn, and Trey David.
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Top Five Current Tech Concerns of Business Owners
...and some solutions that can help.
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We talk tech with business owners all the time. Many either have no IT services or are under-supported and unprotected when it comes to their technology and security. If you are a business owner or other decision maker, perhaps you share some of their concerns. These are five common themes that we have heard this year--if any of these topics have been on your mind, give us a call! Our goal is your peace of mind.
- Cybersecurity threats;
- Ransomware tops the list of tech concerns business owners have in 2021. Stories of data lockups and other hacks are ubiquitous, published daily in every major outlet. The best defense is a multi-layered "fortress" built around your business.
- Employee training is an important, but time-hungry, component in preventing attacks, but most small business owners admit they don’t have the resources or expertise to conduct training for their team. Find good resources such as phishing simulations and video training.
- Dark web activity remains a threat to businesses of all sizes. Stay on top by rotating passwords and practicing good online hygiene.
- Many industries rely entirely on pre-packaged software solutions. While these solutions are convenient, many are connected to the web and may have zero-day vulnerabilities. Working with an IT provider can help you find trustworthy solutions and come up with plans to avoid data loss or hacks.
- Rapid changes in hardware and software;
- On top of all their other responsibilities, people in C-suite positions are now expected to be experts in hardware, software, and cybersecurity in order to keep their resources, data, and other technology safe.
- CEOs must also keep an eye on systems that are becoming out of date and reaching obsolescence, a process that happens much faster nowadays. IT experts can help manage this process.
- Chip shortages;
- Businesses don’t have time to wait for hardware and equipment when they order it. With current chip shortages, small businesses are seeing large delays in receiving crucial equipment due to manufacturing slowdowns.
- Using an IT consultant like Facet can get businesses greater access to parts and hardware than they might otherwise find on their own.
- Implementation of new systems;
- Installing and maintaining a network for a small business takes a special skill set.
- Many businesses purchase equipment and then let it collect dust as they don’t have time to install it.
- The best way to combat this is to buy and have your equipment installed by a professional IT company like Facet. You'll know it's done right!
- Designing systems that scale;
- We all want to eliminate the roadblocks that will stop our business from growing. Doing that requires networking and security systems that will grow with your business.
- Meet with an IT consultant before implementing new systems in your business. Tell them your growth plans and how you expect your business to change and scale in the coming years, and they can help you design a system that will continue to work for you without huge overhauls. This will save you money long-term.
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Facet Follies
Check out more Facet Follies on our blog. By cartoonist Mike Wright.
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Employee Recipe: Angie's Summer Blueberry Cake
This month’s recipe recommendation is courtesy of Angie Abbey, Facet's new Customer Service Liaison! You may have already met her over the phone when calling Facet for business IT service. We are so excited to have Angie as part of the Facet team! Angie recommends this delicious blueberry cake for an easy dessert full of great summer flavors. Yum!
Angie's Easy Blueberry Cake
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour, divided
- 2/3 cup firmly packed cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups blueberries
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Powdered sugar (optional), for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Butter an 8 or 9-inch springform pan or round cake pan, then dust it with flour. If using a cake pan, line the bottom with parchment paper.
- Place the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl and use a fork to thoroughly mix the ingredients together.
- Use your hands to make a hole in the center of the dry ingredients. Into the hole, crack the egg and add the olive oil, yogurt, applesauce, vanilla, and lemon zest. Use a fork to mix the ingredients together until smooth and blended.
- In another bowl, mix the blueberries with the lemon juice and 1 teaspoon flour.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the blueberries in a single layer on the top (no need to press them down).
- Bake until the cake 35 to 40 minutes (ours took 37 minutes), until golden brown on top and a toothpick in the enter comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and leave on the counter to cool completely, 1 hour. If using a springform pan, remove the sides (if using a cake pan, you can leave in the pan or remove it). If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into pieces and serve. If desired, serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
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Thanks for reading. We appreciate you! Questions, comments, or ideas you'd like to see in here? Drop me a line at pr@facettech.com.
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