Email security is the hottest topic in Cyber right now. Mainstream news channels are extensively reporting on the newly publicised vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange. What is a vulnerability in software? This is usually a weakness, glitch or flaw present in the code of the software. Without fixing these, vulnerabilities can impact the performance and security of the software. These glitches … Read More
What Is Microsoft End of Life and What Does It Mean for My Products?
Microsoft regularly releases new versions of their software. As these are released and adopted by users support is withdrawn for older versions.What is the Microsoft Lifecycle? This provides consistent and predictable guidelines for support throughout the life of a product. In turn, this helps companies/users manage their IT environments & plan for the future. Microsoft usually provides 5 years of … Read More
It’s Time to Stand Up – for the Good of Your Health
I am sure I’m not the only one who is very bad at taking breaks at work. I find myself glued to my desk for 8 hours only getting up to get water or nipping to the loo! Sitting in the same position for that long can lead to feeling tense, achy, or fatigued. It is very normal for me … Read More
What is Mesh Wi-fi and Which is the Best?
Struggling with internet signal around the house or office? Plug in Wi-Fi extenders not working very well? Internet providers router not up to the task? This is where a Mesh system can really help. What is Mesh Wi-fi & how does it work? A wireless mesh network consists of a node that connects directly to your modem and then a … Read More
10 Technology Myths That People Still Believe (and Why They Are Not True)
Most people think of myths as traditional or ancient stories, passed from person to person around a roaring campfire. More recently, urban legends have become a form of modern folklore warning of the dangers of everything from strangers, drinking alcohol, and even to visiting foreign places. Still more recently myths have emerged surrounding the technology most of use in our … Read More
Optima Staff Top Picks for Things to Do During Lockdown
We asked our staff for recommendations for things to do whilst social distancing. Here are some of the best! Gemma, IT Manager – Go see a musical! Know the lyrics to Jesus Christ Superstar? Wish you could play Christine in the Phantom of the Opera? Then you’re in luck. Andrew Lloyd Webber has teamed up with Universal to announce that … Read More
How to Help the Fight Against COVID-19 from Home
Think you need to be a virologist to help in the fight again COVID-19? Think again! All you need is a laptop or PC. Folding@home is a project focused on disease research. The problems they are solving require many computer calculations and they don’t have the computing capacity to be able to run them. The Folding@home software allows you to … Read More
How to Access Your Office PC from Home Using RemotePC
Struggling to access or no access to your work PC? Company can’t afford expensive licenses in the current economical situation? If you have answered yes to both these questions, then we would recommend looking at RemotePC. RemotePC has slashed its prices in half to help with the current situation and the increase of users working from home. RemotePC works by … Read More
Options for Keeping Connected to Family During COVID-19 Isolation
As the Government has advised everyone to stay at home and avoid all but essential travel, a lot of people are going to be in isolation on their own. Some may not have any contact with another person and therefore may struggle to get through. There are numerous ways of staying in contact, the obvious one would be to call … Read More
Criminals Are Using Coronavirus in New Email Phishing Scams
Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Coronavirus as an international emergency at the end of January, cybercriminals have predictably encorporated it into their last scams. They have been sending out emails proporting to be from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the (fictional) Wuhan Medical authorities. These emails contain a link that will show an updated … Read More
A trip to London for Microsoft Azure Training
This week I went to London for a Microsoft Azure fundamentals 2-day course. We have had a few clients mention they would like to move to the ‘cloud’ so thought it would be a good opportunity to learn more about Azure. What is Azure? Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing service created by Microsoft for building, testing, deploying and managing … Read More
5 tips for keeping your network secure
Do you think your network is safe? It’s not just cyber criminals that can bring down your network and compromise data; careless users or disgruntled staff can be just as bad. Your network security is made up of hardware and software, policies and procedures which work to defend against threats to your systems. Layers of hardware and software can prevent … Read More
Keeping Your Tech in Tip Top Condition
These days keeping your tech in tip top condition is vital to many. The average adult is awake for 15 hours and 45 minutes every day and 45% of that time is spent using Tech. You may think your screen, keyboard, mouse etc looks clean but studies have shown that a ‘touch’ phone has approx. 25,000 germs per square inch. … Read More