Texas Professional IT Services LLC Blog

Antivirus software is one of those things we all know we need, but have you ever stopped to think about how it actually works? Understanding the basics can help you appreciate why keeping it updated is so important. Today, we took a look at antivirus software.

In keeping with the modern trend of incorporating artificial intelligence into everything we do, Google has been moving full steam ahead with Gemini, the company’s latest AI model. While once available only to those willing to pay the “Advanced” plan’s $20-per-month fee, Google recently announced that many new features would be available for free… including the capability to reference a user’s Search queries and other Google applications to further personalize that user’s results.

Let’s go over how to set this up, but also, why you may want to refrain from doing so.

Another month, another batch of security updates. Google has been busy squashing 43 bugs in Android, and—surprise, surprise—two of them were zero-day vulnerabilities. That means bad actors could’ve been exploiting them before Google even knew what was up. Obviously, this isn’t good and highlights why it’s important to keep your software updated. 

Just about any collaboration platform these days will allow you to share your screen. The functionality works largely the same, regardless of whether you’re using Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or something else, but we want to cover how to use it on these popular platforms. We’ll assume you’ve already joined a meeting for this article, so let’s get started sharing your screen.

Running a business is like managing a bunch of moving parts with relationships with employees, customers, operations, and, of course, vendors. Vendors supply your business with the products and services that keep things running, but if you’re not careful, those relationships can turn into time and money pits. So, how do you make vendor relationships work in your favor? Here are some smart ways to get the most out of them without unnecessary headaches.

By now, you’ve heard us discuss how data backup is extremely important for every organization. We try to spread awareness of the negative impacts to a business that doesn’t have a comprehensive backup plan in place. Fortunately, data backup has come a long way in the past decade, making it easier, faster, and way more reliable. Let’s take a look at how things have changed in data backup.

QR codes are a popular way to direct individuals to specific web pages, like your business’ website. You can make them with relative ease, so there’s no excuse not to use them. Today, we’ll go over how you can make them in Microsoft Excel, a tool your business already probably uses to some extent.

Modern collaboration platforms, like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom, have considerably expanded how and where work can be done. Let’s go over how to use the screen-sharing features these three platforms offer. 

There is no shortage of events that can throw a business off track, from severe storms to human error to cybercriminal activity. Fortunately, a little preparation can make them much easier to navigate.

Let’s discuss creating a crisis plan to address these kinds of events.

Cybersecurity is a major issue for every for-profit, non-profit, and individual out there. There are near-constant threats coming at you every day, and if you don’t take this particular threat seriously, you will likely have a tough go of it if you want to use the Internet or online resources. The fact is that people absolutely need to be sure that you are doing everything you can to protect the data they give you. Let’s take a look at why just giving an apology isn’t cutting it when dealing with the protection of customer personal data.

Social media might connect people unlike any tool previously seen, but it’s not all sunshine and daisies. After all, this same revolution in communication has brought about one of the largest ways to scam unsuspecting users. Today, we want to take a look at how these social media scams work and what you can do to keep yourself safe.

Artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm, and you can now find it in just about all areas of life. Businesses in particular have a lot to gain from AI, yet many people still don’t know what it is, what it actually does, and, most importantly, how to use it well. Today, we’re tackling AI literacy and how you can use it to your benefit.

Certain information needs to be well-known in the professional workplace at every level of an organization. Cybersecurity best practices are examples of such pieces of information.

Unfortunately, a recent survey has shown that a significant portion of adults in the United Kingdom—about one in three—failed a cybersecurity test. What’s worse, this test was designed for 11-year-olds

Let’s discuss what this means about modern security and how prepared modern businesses are… or aren’t.

Before you know it, Windows 10 will be on its way out, as it will reach its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025. Unfortunately, whether you’re ready or not, this day will come. In the past, you could pay for extended security updates, but is this actually a feasible solution for a small business?

Business continuity is a critical element of any organization’s preparations for the future, including how comprehensive the backup is designed to be. Let’s discuss the steps that businesses—especially small ones—need to take to ensure their data is protected.

Tax season is coming, at least in the United States, and while it’s not the most exciting time of the year, it’s important nonetheless. Hackers know this, too, so you might get some unsolicited text messages or emails claiming to be the Internal Revenue Service. Today, we want to highlight the importance of awareness this tax season, and what you should anticipate over the next couple of months.

How much does your business depend on its mobile technology? More likely than not, you have smartphones implemented on your network in some capacity, whether it’s for productivity or security. That said, you need to have a strategy in place to manage and maintain them, which is where mobile device management comes in.

Social media is addictive, this much is true. For the people who never have taken the leap and put themselves out there, it is often maddening to see people jump from outrage about one issue to another issue without any real resolution. This week, we will discuss the neverending stream of controversy that is brought on by social media and some things you can do to keep it from being a problem for you.

While we may be IT professionals and—as such—take security extremely seriously, it can occasionally help to discuss business cybersecurity with a different approach… such as a daytime soap opera. What follows is one of these occasions.

Welcome to Oak Falls, a cozy little coastal hamlet shielded by the trees that give it its name. Unfortunately, these trees do little to protect the residents from the cyberthreats that loom over us all. Like bytes through the Internet, these are the Zero-Days of Our Lives.

Good communication is key for any business. Today, there are tons of ways companies stay connected: phone calls, emails, messaging apps, and video meetings. While all these tools can be helpful, they can also get confusing if not managed properly. Let’s break down the basics of business communication so it’s easy to understand.