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Ferrum Technology Services Blog

Ferrum Technology Services has been serving the Elgin area since 2007, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

CES Introduced New Surveillance Technology

CES Introduced New Surveillance Technology

The 2020 Consumer Electronics Show is always a good place to see the most innovative consumer technology. CES features products of all types from companies of all sizes. This year, there was a strong contingent of companies bringing products to market in the physical security space. This isn’t all that uncommon, but the reaction to many of these devices is noteworthy.

Tip of the Week: How to Solve the Problem of Slow Internet

Tip of the Week: How to Solve the Problem of Slow Internet

Efficient use of modern information technology should make business faster and more agile. No matter how you set your business up, however, a slow Internet connection can be a real drag on business. Today, we wanted to go over some scenarios you should know about when your Internet connection is holding your business back; and, solid practices that you can use to get the Internet speeds you need to move business along efficiently. 

Is It Time for a Technology Refresh?

Is It Time for a Technology Refresh?

Your business is always looking for ways to improve its operations. The more efficiently you do business, the more productive your company will be. To accelerate this growth many businesses look to information technology to build that added efficiency. Today, we will go over when you should consider upgrading your systems, and what benefits you can see from doing so. 

Three Reasons to Seriously Consider Software-as-a-Service

Three Reasons to Seriously Consider Software-as-a-Service

The cloud has allowed businesses access to an astounding amount of resources. One of these resources that has proven exceptionally beneficial to businesses is Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS. Here, we’ll examine SaaS and go over how it can benefit your operations.

Tip of the Week: Laptop Cleaning Best Practices

Tip of the Week: Laptop Cleaning Best Practices

While we don’t mean to gross you out, your computer can be a pretty dirty place - and considering that we have our hands all over it (and who knows what else) all day, it seems a little obvious. What is also obvious is the idea that perhaps it should be cleaned once in a while. Here, we’re giving you a few tips to help you to do so safely.

Is IT for Healthcare Plateauing?

Is IT for Healthcare Plateauing?

Healthcare is undoubtedly one of the hot-button issues in 21st century life. In the past, information technology has been a driving force in the improvement of primary care, but there is evidence that IT integration and innovation have both regressed. Today, we take a look at some of the technologies that are being leveraged by healthcare organizations.

The Potential Detriments of Migrating to the Cloud

The Potential Detriments of Migrating to the Cloud

There are a lot of benefits of moving your business to the cloud. Typically, we promote the reduction in capital expenditures, the 24/7 availability, and all the other features you can gain. The cloud is a useful tool for all types of business computing functions. Today, large sections are moving their business to the cloud, but is it really right for you? Let’s look at how cloud computing can potentially be detrimental for your business.

Tip of the Week: Personalizing Your Windows 10 Desktop

Tip of the Week: Personalizing Your Windows 10 Desktop

While Windows 10 is inarguably the better choice of OS over Windows 7 (especially now that the latter has officially gone the way of the dodo), the experience is made even better with the right customizations made to the settings. Let’s go through some changes you might want to make as you’re starting off (or even later on).

Don’t Be Dumb About Smart Technology

Don’t Be Dumb About Smart Technology

A few years ago, there was a decision made to make a concerted effort by manufacturers to create their products, but to also create those same products with “smart” technology inside. Basically, because of the rampant innovation of Internet-connected systems, devices, appliances, and knick-knacks of all types we have to ask the question: Are we being dumb for using all these smart devices? 

Properly Assigning Access Control Measures Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult

Properly Assigning Access Control Measures Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult

Unless you run a business in which each and every employee is responsible for identical tasks, you are going to encounter the need for variable permissions among your staff so that your data can be better protected. One effective means of enforcing these permissions is through an access management policy. Let’s review a few components you should include in such a policy.

Tip of the Week: 3 Key Factors to Securing Your Data

Tip of the Week: 3 Key Factors to Securing Your Data

With data being such a valuable asset today (especially personally identifiable data), you can’t afford to let any of the information your company has access to fall into the wrong hands. The same goes for all of your data, especially that which concerns your employees or your clients. Let’s go over a few tips that should help you keep this data safe, step by step.

What a Real IT Assessment Will Reveal

What a Real IT Assessment Will Reveal

While IT solutions are an increasingly important factor to any business’ success, it isn’t always an easy matter to determine which solutions will be the most beneficial. One of the most important steps to identifying them is to understand how your current solutions function, and how they can be put to better use or otherwise improved.

An IT assessment is one of the most effective ways to do so.

Best Practices to Control Your Access Control

Best Practices to Control Your Access Control

Over time, your business will accumulate a lot of data, including some that certain employees or departments will have no need to see (or perhaps shouldn’t see). An effective way of keeping eyes from wandering is through an access management policy. Let’s go over a few elements you ought to prioritize in your approach to controlling internal access.

Tip of the Week: Windows 10’s Virtual Desktop Is Very Useful

Tip of the Week: Windows 10’s Virtual Desktop Is Very Useful

Windows 10 gives you interesting options to help you manage your computing experience. One of these options is the presence of the virtual desktop. On a Windows machine, look at your taskbar, near the Start button and the search function. The next little icon, the one that almost looks like a bit of film, is the Task View button, the button that will give users the ability to create and manage virtual desktops. For this week’s tip, we’ll discuss how to use this feature.

Backups Leave Your Business Secure

Backups Leave Your Business Secure

In order to function properly, the modern business needs data. With the predictions of serious cyberattacks, like ransomware, that have been made for the coming year there is no business that can neglect its data protections. Here, we’ll discuss what these predictions are, and what you need to do to prepare.

Exploring Common Server Issues SMBs Encounter

Exploring Common Server Issues SMBs Encounter

A server is a very important piece of the modern business’ technology infrastructure, and so it is important to understand what it is that could cause it to crash. Here, we’ll go over some of the most common crash causes to help you determine how to best take care of it. 

Tip of the Week: Stop Word from Editorializing

Tip of the Week: Stop Word from Editorializing

At the time of this writing, Microsoft Word has a market share just shy of 37 percent, making it a pretty safe bet that you’ve used it at some point. As a result, you’re probably familiar with Word’s insistence of changing how certain things are formatted, which can become irritating - especially if you had it formatted how you wanted it the first time. This week, our tip will cover how you can stop Word from editorializing.

VoIP Solutions Can Have a Ton of Features

VoIP Solutions Can Have a Ton of Features

A great many businesses nowadays have discovered the benefits of using the solutions available through improvements to the technology that has been around for decades - just not in its current form. One prime example is the use of Voice over Internet Protocol to fulfill a business’ telephony needs. By its nature, VoIP offers a variety of useful features - which we’ll review in part here.

Start Off 2020 by Auditing Your Online Accounts and Passwords

Start Off 2020 by Auditing Your Online Accounts and Passwords

Let’s take a look at a real-world scenario that I ran into a few weeks ago with a family friend. For the sake of this story, let’s call him Bob. Bob lost access to a pretty important online account.

The Essential IT Defense Plan for Your Business

The Essential IT Defense Plan for Your Business

In today’s digital landscape, IT security isn’t optional—it’s vital. If your business uses email, connects to the Internet, or relies on mobile devices, you’re exposed to potential threats. Use this  guide to discover the key steps every business needs to protect its data and reputation.

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