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Understanding Phishing: A Threat Lurking in Your Inbox
Understanding Phishing: A Threat Lurking in Your Inbox

In 1996, the first widely known phishing attack occurred when hackers breached aol.com. The perpetrators sent a phishing email to aol.com users, urging them to verify their accounts and provide billing information. Unfortunately, many users unknowingly provided sensitive data to these bad actors.

Phishing is a form of cybercrime where victims are tricked into:
- Providing sensitive data
- Sending money
- Breaching security protocols
What is Phishing?

Phishers use various tactics to bait their victims.

Some phishing emails create a sense of urgency, compelling victims to act quickly. Others attract attention by suggesting that the recipient has won a fantastic prize. Some even include malicious hyperlinks and attachments, which can infect the recipient’s device with ransomware.

Phishing attacks exploit human emotions and are successful when recipients act impulsively. That’s why baits like prizes work – someone excited about winning is less likely to be on their guard. As a rule of thumb, always be skeptical and avoid clicking anything that looks even slightly suspicious.

Spotting a Phishing Scam

While phishing attacks have grown more sophisticated, there are red flags you can look out for.

A common sign that an email is illegitimate is spelling and grammar errors. Also, pay special attention to the sender’s email address – if it isn’t familiar or doesn’t match the organization the email claims to be from, it may be a phishing email.

Phishing attacks can happen to anyone, but those with less digital experience are likelier to fall for them. No matter your level of digital experience, education is critical to mitigating the risk of phishing attacks.

How TechHouse Can Help

At TechHouse, we can help educate your organization about the dangers of phishing attacks.

Our Phishing Net software simulates attacks so that your team can experience real-world threats without real-world repercussions. Employees who take the bait receive training about what they did wrong to be safer in the future.

Many organizations don’t think a cyber-attack will impact them and, as a result, don’t prepare. But consider this – you have car insurance not because you expect an accident but to have coverage if there is one.

Similarly, cybersecurity measures are not about expecting an attack but being prepared if one occurs.

Ready to protect your organization from phishing attacks? Contact TechHouse today for more information.
October 22, 2021
Pivot Table Quick Guide
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PivotTable Quick Guide

In the era of data-driven decision-making, the PivotTable is a powerful tool that allows users to analyze and interpret complex datasets quickly by creating an interactive summary of the information.

This blog post aims to guide decision-makers and influencers in small to mid-market companies on how to best leverage PivotTables for their data analysis needs.

What are PivotTables?

PivotTables are a feature of Microsoft Excel that enables users to transform columns into rows to extract meaningful insights from our data.

It allows us to perform aggregations or totals such as average, minimum, or maximum, enabling us to understand our data better and make better decisions.

How Do PivotTables Work?

Let’s consider an example where we have sales data for several customers over three years from 2018 to 2020:

From the table above, it isn’t easy to quickly discern any customer’s total sales or which customers have the most or least sales in any year. That’s where the magic of PivotTables comes in. With a few steps in PowerPivot, we have a sortable table broken out by year and company.

This PivotTable lets us see each customer’s sales trends over time.

The Caveat

While PivotTables are a powerful tool, it’s important to note that not everyone might find it easy to use.

There are alternatives to ensure everyone benefits from more significant data insights. In Excel, conditional formatting and charts may help them understand the data better.

Another option is to take advantage of PowerBI, which separates the data design from information consumption – making it more accessible to a broader user set.

Getting Started with PivotTables

Check out our video to get started, or follow these quick steps to try out Pivot Tables in Excel:
1. In Microsoft Excel, click on Insert.
2. Click on PivotTable.
3. Select your data range and click Insert PivotTable.
4. You can insert a new sheet by default or select an existing location.
5. Once there, you will see an empty table where you can build your Pivot.
6. You can select fields from your data set and drag them into the rows and columns to visualize your data.
7. You can add data to the upper left to filter.
Are you ready to leverage the power of PivotTables for your business? Get in touch with our team today! Let's unlock the potential of your data together.

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October 20, 2021
TechHouse Among 2021 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honorees

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TechHouse Among 2021 GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honorees

TechHouse is pleased to be among the top 50 second-stage companies in Florida selected as an 11^th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch honorees, a statewide competition that identifies companies expected to see significant growth over the next several years. The 11^th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch awards celebration is brought to you by Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation.

Companies to Watch was developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation as a unique way to recognize and honor second-stage companies that demonstrate high performance in the marketplace with innovative strategies and processes. In addition to evaluating past growth and projected success, applicant companies are judged according to their special strengths and impact in their markets, communities, and within the state – thus deeming them worth watching.

82 finalists were announced earlier this year, and the 50 honorees were selected after a final round of judging by a panel of independent judges comprised of past honorees, economic development leaders, and corporate partners of GrowFL. Companies were judged on several criteria including growth in number of employees; impact of the business in the job market; increase in sales and/or unit volume; current and past financial reports; innovativeness of the product or service; response to adversity; and contributions to aid community-oriented projects.

“This group of Honorees represents 20 counties, 20 different industries and almost 50% of them are women, veteran or minority-owned. They have demonstrated notable growth and have the courage and tenacity it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Despite the challenges thrown their way and pivoting through a pandemic, these companies embody the unshakeable resiliency of Florida’s entrepreneurs,” said Lisa McIntosh, GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Chair and founder of C-E-Optimal Advisors.

“We are thrilled to be honored alongside so many excellent organizations,” said TechHouse CEO and founder, Kathy Durfee. “This recognition reflects the hard work of the TechHouse team. We firmly believe that technology can aid any organization and will continue to combat tech inequity by bringing our solutions to small and medium-sized businesses.”

“Year after year, these outstanding companies continue to impress me. These are the CEOs, managers, and team members who are making the biggest impact on our state’s economy,” said Russell Slappey, CEO of Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services and event title sponsor. “They deserve to be celebrated now and into the future as they continue to grow, continue to innovate and continue to be a company we all should watch.”

To qualify for the award, companies must be headquartered in Florida and have between 6 and 150 and revenue between $750,000 and $100 million in 2020. Even through the pandemic, these companies projected continued growth in 2021, with a 62% revenue increase and 49% growth in employees compared to 2020. If their projections hold, these companies will have generated $1.7 billion in revenue and added more than 1,500 employees over the last five years — a 263% increase in revenue and a 206% increase in jobs since 2017.

Companies named to the list will be officially recognized at the 11^th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Celebration on February 17, 2022, at the Hard Rock Live in Universal CityWalk, Orlando, FL. Tickets are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://growfl.com/flctw21/about-flctw/.

About TechHouse

TechHouse has over 25 years of experience providing consulting services and customized IT solutions for corporate, mid-market, and small organizations. Each TechHouse team member firmly believes that small and mid-market organizations are critical to local communities’ health. Our team is easy to work with and ready to help your organization thrive by designing custom-fit solutions. Unlike other tech companies, we take a holistic approach to your organization and help create a roadmap for your organization’s success.

Website: www.tech-house.com

About GrowFL

GrowFL is dedicated to support and accelerate the growth of second-stage companies throughout Florida, by providing their leaders focused, efficient, and timely access to resources they deem important, such as connections with other second-stage company leaders, and to professional organizations whose expertise, experience, and products lead to the second-stage company’s continued growth and prosperity resulting in diversification and growth of Florida’s economy. Second-stage growth companies have at least 6 employees and $750,000 in revenue and possess the intent and desire to grow beyond second-stage.

Website: https://www.growfl.com.

About Edward Lowe Foundation

The Edward Lowe Foundation was established in 1985 by Ed and Darlene Lowe to leverage entrepreneurship as a strategy for economic growth and community development. The foundation’s entrepreneurship initiatives focus on second-stage companies, which are growth-oriented firms that have moved beyond startup but have not yet reached maturity. Its peer learning, leadership education, and strategic information programs are geared to help these companies continue growing.

Website: www.EdwardLowe.org.

About Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services

Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services, a Florida firm, operates around the country from centers in Orlando, Tampa, and South Florida. The firm was founded 20 years ago to assist small- and medium-sized businesses that need the expertise of seasoned financial executives but are unable to hire that expertise full-time. Many highly profitable companies that could afford a full-time CFO don’t need one daily. To assist these companies, the firm provides senior executives with extensive financial expertise and experience on an as-needed basis, calibrating engagements to specific client needs and resources. Nperspective CFOs provide services such as cash flow planning, strategic planning/business planning/budgeting, assistance with bank financing, reviewing financial reporting processes and internal control processes for effectiveness. With a 20-year track record, Nperspective is ready to help companies mitigate the problems of Covid-19 from loan and grant applications to managing finances under the new normal.

Website: https://www.nperspective.com/

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October 5, 2021
Client Corner #4: From Paper to Cloud with No-Code/Low-Code
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From Paper to Cloud

TechHouse’s clients are simplifying work for their field workers. In this Client Corner, we consider three TechHouse clients: an electrical contractor, a heating and cooling contractor, and an organization in the healthcare industry. All three of these clients have employees who work “in the field” and use custom-fit apps from TechHouse.

Previously, field workers relied on hard paper documents. They had to go to their primary office to pick up paperwork before going out into the field. This paperwork detailed their deliverables, allowing them to go where they needed to take care of business. Once finished, they would return to the office, turn in the paperwork, and sometimes obtain new work and go back out.

This traditional, paper-dependent process cost time and limited flexibility for workers. However, events over the past year and a half expedited the move from paper to cloud. This transition spurred innovation in workplaces across the country.

Apps that Boost Efficiency

In moving from paper to cloud, some organizations realized that although they needed custom-fit solutions, they didn’t want to deal with high-level software development. For clients like this, TechHouse offers low-code/no-code custom apps. These apps enhance workflow by providing field workers instant access to their tasks.

The apps can also make instructions accessible on mobile devices. Back-office employees create assignments, which field workers view through the app on their smartphones. The app shows them where they need to go and what they need to do, eliminating the need to return to the office as well as cleaning up messy paper trails. The app can also track field workers’ locations throughout the workday to ensure their safety.

A significant benefit of these low-code/no-code custom apps is that organizations can quickly make small changes. Each organization can define its requirements to respond to its specific needs. Some popular requirements are:
- Fieldworker tasks and locations
- Live field worker location tracking
- Location time stamps
- Work completion time stamps
- “Next up” task lists
Custom-fit Solutions that Solve Problems

Low-code/no-code apps are great solutions when they match the problem at hand. TechHouse works carefully to ensure that the solution we provide solves a problem rather than a symptom of a problem.

TechHouse only designs and builds solutions after learning how a team operates. We gather information to understand essential functionalities like:
- The industry vocabulary used in an organization
- How teams typically communicate in the office and the field
- How managers assign various tasks to individuals with different skillsets
- Criteria of task completion
A deep understanding of an organization or team’s functionality is essential to creating an effective solution; this is why many packaged applications fall short.

Some organizations DIY their app development using packaged applications, not knowing that they are often optimized for a fixed period. When the apps become outdated, organizations get stuck tailoring their work to an outdated app.

Unlike packaged apps, the low-code/no-code apps that TechHouse builds are adaptable. Custom-fit apps allow organizations to choose how their organization runs, rather than vice versa. Sometimes, packaged apps create more problems than solutions.

Keep Your Organization Flexible—in the Field and Your Industry

Organizations must be flexible enough to respond to internal and external changes. Anything can happen, from organization restructuring to supply-chain shortages. Regardless, no organization wants to find itself stuck in an inefficient or ill-fitting process. That’s why custom-fit apps are often a better investment than prepackaged apps. Few organizations benefit from using technologies that were best practiced 18 months earlier.

When organizations opt for low-code/no-code solutions, they place themselves better positioned to respond to change. This is the case for the three TechHouse clients who have sought out custom apps.

If you think your organization could benefit from the flexibility provided by a low-code/no-code solution, contact TechHouse today. It will be our pleasure to work with you.

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September 27, 2021
Client Corner #3: Getting Creative and Adapting to New Changes

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Getting Creative and Adapting to New Changes

Adapting looks different for everyone.

This week, we will be talking about a few clients we’re working with, the problems they’re facing, and what TechHouse is doing to help. The problems range in complexity, but the theme that ties them together is getting creative and adapting to new challenges.

Last year, many companies had to pivot to adapt to the pandemic. Now, with a sense of normalcy returning, companies are having to readjust again. Many now have hybrid workforces as some employees return to the office and continue working from home.

This first client is a prime example.

Updating a Teams Phone System for a Hybrid Work Model

We helped this client go fully remote last year with Microsoft Teams VoIP. They were not going into the office at all, and their entire phone system was on-premises and therefore useless during the pandemic.

However, now their office building is back open, and both employees and guests are returning. Their old system had an extension in the building to buzz people in, but they lost that capability when they moved to Teams.

To solve this problem and keep their updated Teams phone system, TechHouse is helping the customer set up an E-Receptionist. With a Teams-powered device in the lobby and some configuration, the customer will be able to buzz in visitors as they used to while keeping their updated, online phone system to support their hybrid work model.

Restaurant with Multiple Locations Turns to Automation to Handle Invoicing

Another client we work with has struggled to find office labor to handle administrative tasks, specifically accounting and invoicing.

This client is a restaurant with multiple locations, and now that more people are going out to eat, their accounting and invoicing volume has increased. Before the pandemic, they would have hired someone to handle the increased amount of work, but now they are having trouble finding someone and are turning to automation software to get the job done.

Since this client doesn’t have a dedicated internal IT team, TechHouse, as their trusted technology partner, is helping them assess software and OCR scanning solutions to make the best decision for their growing business.

Busy Entrepreneur Needs Help Jump-Starting His Tech Baseline

The last client we want to highlight this month is an entrepreneur who has been so busy working on the other parts of his business that he hasn’t had the time to address technology at all.

This client is a serial entrepreneur who has created several successful companies in various industries. He currently runs an agriculture company that focuses on sustainable farming and has ten employees.

The problem he faces is a simple one: he has one email that goes to his computer and a different email that goes to his phone.

TechHouse is helping him get set up on Microsoft 365, so he has one secure email for all his devices that is also on a platform that can scale with his business. Although this problem may seem simple, it’s easy to overlook as an entrepreneur who is heavily involved in many different parts of the business.

Incremental Steps Lead to Long-Lasting Change

Beyond displaying the willingness to adapt and solve problems creatively, all these client stories also exemplify the effectiveness of making incremental changes.

It’s better to gradually make small changes to your business that will solve your current problems and further support your foundation down the road than to make sudden, drastic changes that solve existing problems but create more problems in the future.

Switching to a VoIP phone system means your business will never be limited to an office ever again.

Using automation means you won’t have to hire someone to do a certain process ever again, and you won’t have to worry about human error.

Having your email set up correctly on a platform that can scale with your business means you can grow as much or as little as you want with the tools you need just a click away.

How your business uses (or doesn’t use) technology can help or hinder your growth.

Working with a partner who understands your business and can advise you every step of the way and even anticipate challenges before they affect your bottom line is the best way to grow sustainably. If your business is facing technological challenges, contact us today to see how we can help you adapt and thrive.

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July 14, 2021
Six New Features in QuickBooks Online for Growing Businesses ( Cloned )
Six New Features in QuickBooks Online for Growing Businesses

In the fast-paced business world, efficiency and productivity are key to success. As a small business leader, you understand the importance of leveraging technology to streamline operations and maximize resources. QuickBooks Online Advanced is one such tool that has proven to be a game-changer for many businesses. In this blog post, we’ll explore six new features in QuickBooks Online Advanced that can help take your business to the next level.
1. Multi-Company and Multi-Currency
Whether through acquisition or global reach, growing just got a lot easier.

With QBO Advanced, you can easily switch back and forth between companies using the settings gear. Even better, you can combine data from multiple companies in one report.

For businesses that operate internationally, QBO now supports multiple currencies. You can easily manage transactions in different currencies without worrying about conversion rates or exchange fees.
1. Customizable Roles
QBO now offers more built-in roles and allows for custom roles when the existing ones don’t meet your needs. Some new built-in roles include HR Manager for running payroll and Assistant Bookkeeper for handling AR and AP transaction entry. You can also limit which reports someone can view, ensuring that sensitive information is only accessible to those who need it.
1. Fixed Assets Management
QBO has introduced several features to eliminate the need to track fixed assets and their depreciation schedule in a separate Excel spreadsheet. Key capabilities include adding fixed assets to the register directly from transactions, support for non-depreciable and fully depreciated assets, asset disposal support, CSV import, and report export. No longer waste time with manual entry. QBO Advanced creates automatic monthly depreciation and comprehensive reports. When you look at the asset online, you can see the depreciation schedule for that asset.
1. Approvals/Automation/Workflow
QBO now supports multi-user sequencing approvals, from clerk to financial lead to CFO to owner. Posting to the GL happens on approval, not while waiting for approval. Printing and emailing are blocked until the approver approves the transaction. There’s also a detailed audit log, run history, and the ability to comment on rejections. Approval workflows enforces compliance with organizational policy, systemize internal stakeholder sign-offs, prevent user error, reduce the time spent back and forth to gain approval, and mitigate fraud risks.
1. Custom Dashboard
With QBO, you can create your custom dashboard with up to 25 charts. Custom dashboards allow you to visualize your data in a way that makes sense for your business and helps you make informed decisions.

In conclusion, QuickBooks Online Advanced is more than just an accounting tool. It’s a comprehensive business solution to streamline operations, improve financial management, and drive growth. With features like multi-company reporting, multi-currency support, customizable roles, fixed assets management, approvals automation, and custom dashboards, it’s equipped to handle the complexities of a growing business. As a small business leader, leveraging these features can help you focus on what you do best: growing your business. In business, efficiency is not just about doing things right; it’s about doing the right things. And QuickBooks Online Advanced helps do just that.
June 10, 2021
Four Ways Microsoft Azure Can Help Your Business
Four Ways Microsoft Azure Can Help Your Business

As a business owner, the vast array of over two hundred products and services offered by Microsoft Azure might seem overwhelming. But fear not, we’re here to guide you through the cloud and highlight four key features that can provide immediate benefits to your business:
1. Windows Virtual Machines (WVM)
2. Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD)
3. Single Sign-On (SSO)
4. Data Management
How can each of these help your small business succeed? Let’s find out!

Windows Virtual Machines (WVM) – Your On-Demand IT Infrastructure

What is a Windows Virtual Machine?

Imagine having an added computer within your primary one. That’s what a Windows Virtual Machine on Azure offers.

It’s a secure, isolated environment where you can run servers or entire operating systems without affecting your main system.

This setup is invaluable for testing and development purposes.

Advantages of WVMs include:
- Cost Efficiency – Save on physical hardware costs.
- Enhanced Security – Benefit from Azure’s robust cloud infrastructure to keep your data safe and off-site.
Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD): Empower Your Remote Workforce

The Windows Virtual Desktop service allows your employees to access a full Windows 10 experience from any device, anywhere.

This integration doesn’t require additional licenses and works seamlessly with Microsoft Teams and Office.

Advantages of WVD include:
- Accessibility – Supply remote access without the need for added hardware.
- Security – Azure’s security is top-notch, often surpassing on-premises solutions.
Single Sign-On (SSO): One Credential to Access Them All

With Azure Active Directory and our Data Toolkit, you can synchronize Office 365 credentials for Single Sign-On capabilities across various cloud applications, saving your employees from the hassle of multiple logins.

Advantages of SSO include:
- Efficiency – Reduce login times and increase productivity.
- Convenience – Ideal for organizations with large teams or high turnover rates.
Data Management: Let Azure Do the Heavy Lifting

If your business deals with extensive reporting from systems like accounting, operations, sales, and scheduling, Azure can streamline your data management.

Manual data collection is prone to errors; Azure automates this process, ensuring accuracy and saving time.

Advantages of Azure for data management include:
- Automated Data Capture – Say goodbye to manual entry.
- Centralized Data Repository – Access and manage your data from a single location.
- Data Cleansing– Trust Azure to clean your data for precise analysis.
In Conclusion

Microsoft Azure is more than just a cloud service; it’s a comprehensive solution designed to enhance and support your business operations.

From virtual machines to secure remote access, simplified logins, and efficient data management, Azure has you covered.

Start exploring these features today and witness Azure’s transformative impact on your business.
June 10, 2021
Client Corner #2: A Tale of Two Breaches

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A Tale of Two Breaches

We’ve been focusing on security for the last few weeks, and this week we want to specifically talk about breaches.

This weekend, a ransomware attack shut down a major U.S. Gasoline Pipeline and even more recently another ransomware attack took down Ireland’s health care system.

These incidents show that cyberattacks are getting more sophisticated, and perhaps Colonial Pipeline and Ireland’s health care system did not have sufficient security to defend against such attacks.

Every organization has to decide where to mitigate risk and sometimes unfortunately not enough is done until after a breach has occurred.

Below are two cautionary tales from our clients that hopefully will help inform your leadership before you too feel the pain of a breach.

Security Breach #1: A Compromised Email Account and a Lack of Urgency

The first client just signed up with us last month.

Before working with us, this client took a “DIY” approach to their IT.

As always, we support DIY if you or someone on your team has the IT experience and know-how.

The owner, however, had decided it was time to have someone with more experience take over the IT side of the business, which is where our partnership began.

To start, we moved the client’s Microsoft 365 licenses over to TechHouse.

The owner opted for a phased security approach; however, we discovered one mailbox had already been breached as soon as we transferred them over. We locked it down right away, but unfortunately, the forensics were limited due to the lack of security tools in place at the time of the breach.

It’s not enough to configure your environment to protect you anymore. You must also make sure auditing is enabled, so if a hacker breaches your environment, you have the forensics to figure out when and how they got in.

We asked if the owner would like to accelerate their phased security roadmap, but they replied, “No, we’ll just hope nothing else comes up.”

Again, as a partner and consultant, we can only make recommendations to our clients, but a “hope and pray” approach to security is inadvisable, especially after a breach.

We enable auditing with our Security Hardening, and depending on your Microsoft licensing, there are different options available for auditing and activity logs.

We recommend every organization that chooses to partner with us start with a Security Hardening.

Security Breach #2: Impersonating an Executive from the Inside

One of our referring partners asked us to help a client of theirs last month, but the client had to cancel their meeting with us when they found out they had been breached.

A hacker found their way into their system and compromised an executive’s email account. The hacker then impersonated the executive without anyone else noticing.

Once the hacker had access to the account, they sent emails and set rules to delete them from the outbox immediately, so the victim never even knew they had been hacked.

This company didn’t find out until it was already too late.

The hacker ended up fraudulently wiring $250,000 from the company’s bank account to their own pockets.

This money, now lost to the company, will directly fund the hacker’s cybercrime operations to make matters worse.

A Proactive Approach to Security is Necessary to Prevent Breaches

Cyber threats are real. Security breaches happen.

They are now in our daily news cycle and affecting the lives of ordinary people around the United States and the world.

If your company hasn’t been breached before, the threat may still feel like it’s “out there,” and cybersecurity isn’t something you need to worry about.

Trust us, you don’t want to wait until the threat feels real and your organization is compromised.

The only way to prevent attacks is to have a proactive cybersecurity plan in place. Working with a partner (and heeding their advice) is the best way to protect your organization.

If you have been breached or if you need a plan to prevent breaches from occurring, contact us today to see how we can help.

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May 14, 2021
Client Corner #1: Get Organized and Secure from the Start
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Get Organized and Secure from the Start

This is the first post in a new monthly blog series where we will share what our clients are struggling with, what we’re doing to help, and how our recommendations can also benefit your organization.

This month is all about how to get organized to grow your business and why you should secure your files from the start.

Get Organized with the Power Platform

We had a client come to us this month who said they really needed to get organized.

After working with us, they now have a better sense of who they are now, what they do, and are even changing their name to reflect their new sense of identity.

Additionally, they want to make sure their processes are in alignment with who they are going forward to ensure continual growth. The three most crucial factors for growth in any company are People, Product, and Processes.

When it comes to Processes, the Microsoft Power Platform can be a real game changer.

We have helped companies use the Power Platform to:
- Capture Data with Power Apps
- Create Workflows with Power Automate
- Bring Data to Life with Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI
Automating tasks and tracking your company’s data are both crucial as your company scales, and the Microsoft Power Platform provides easy-to-use, low-code tools to do so.

Secure from the Start for a Successful Digital Transformation

The same client who came to us to get organized kept bringing up two other subjects throughout the conversation: Digital Transformation and Security.

They wanted to know where their files were and wanted to make sure they were secure.

We recommend any organization considering a move to the Cloud secures its files from the beginning; however, this client did not do that. They decided to use a third-party application for their file storage instead of OneDrive (included in every Microsoft 365 subscription).

The application they use is designed for non-technical users to send large files and collaborate, but there is a glaring security issue on the user side: what is happening to data before and after it’s uploaded and sent?

OneDrive, being integrated with the rest of Microsoft 365, provides robust security for your stored files, and further security optimizations can be made with the help of a partner.

Additionally, our client told us their clients accidentally send sensitive information all the time and weren’t aware there are rules in Microsoft 365 one can use to prevent this.

Neglecting security and organization of your files will only lead to further problems down the line as you grow which is why consulting with an expert before you start is always a good idea.

An even better idea is to work with a partner who will be there to advise every step of the way.

If your company is looking for this kind of partner or you just want to get organized or need help with digital transformation and security, contact us today for a free 15-minute consult to see how we can help.

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April 23, 2021
Streamlining Communication with Microsoft Teams: Our Approach
Streamlining Communication with Microsoft Teams: Our Approach

Here at TechHouse, we consider ourselves experts in making remote-only offices work — after all, we’ve been remote from the beginning!

Over the years, we’ve discovered that Microsoft Teams can significantly enhance internal communication when used effectively:
- For immediate attention – we prefer a call on Teams
- For urgent matters – a message on Teams works best
- For non-urgent issues – an email suffices
These guidelines help us maintain a balance between addressing immediate needs and focusing on ongoing projects, ensuring optimal productivity.

Organizing Contacts by Skill

We’ve found it beneficial to organize contacts by skill rather than by department. This approach allows us to efficiently address specific needs.

However, it’s crucial to manage the creation of new Teams to prevent confusion and maintain effective collaboration.

Prioritizing Work-Life Balance

At TechHouse, we understand the importance of balancing professional commitments with personal responsibilities. That’s why we appreciate the flexibility offered by Microsoft Teams.

With Teams on their mobile devices, our team members can participate in meetings from anywhere, providing them with the flexibility they need.

Embracing Flexibility with Microsoft Teams

Being confined to a desk all day isn’t conducive to productivity or job satisfaction. If your tech guidelines are creating rigidity, it might be time to reconsider.

Introducing flexibility can foster trust within your team, leading to a more harmonious and productive work environment.

Investing in technology like Microsoft Teams that empowers your team to work in a way that suits them best could be a game-changer for your organization.

Ready to optimize your use of Microsoft Teams? Contact us today for more insights!
April 16, 2021