Ever needed to quickly convert a file—say, from a Word doc to a PDF—and found yourself Googling for a free tool to do it? It seems harmless enough. A quick download. A fast conversion. Job done. But what if that one small click opened the door to ransomware, data theft, or a full-blown cyberattack? That’s…
If your business is still using Windows 10, it’s time to start planning — because the clock is ticking. On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10. That means: ❌ No more security updates ❌ No more bug fixes ❌ No more technical support And for professional service firms in Chicagoland…
Have you ever sat in a Microsoft Teams meeting and found yourself gritting your teeth every time someone said, “Next slide, please”? You’re not alone. If your business runs a lot of online meetings, client presentations, or webinars, you’ve probably experienced the awkward pauses, clunky transitions, and disrupted flow that come with switching between presenters.…
You’re packing for a well-earned summer getaway. You set your out-of-office message: “Hi there! I’m out of the office until [date]. For urgent matters, please contact [coworker’s name and email].” Seems harmless, right? Not so fast. For cybercriminals, that simple auto-reply is a gold mine — especially for professional service firms in Chicagoland where client communication, financial…
You trust your team. They’re smart, capable, and they’ve been around long enough to know better than to click on suspicious links or open sketchy attachments. They’ve heard of phishing. They know the red flags. They’re not the type to fall for it. At least, that’s what they think. Here’s the reality: just because someone believes they…
Download Monthly Newsletter – June 2025
For professional service firms across Chicagoland — from Naperville to the North Shore — technology isn’t just a tool. It’s the backbone of your operations. But if your only interaction with your IT provider is when it’s time to renew the contract, you’re missing critical opportunities to protect and grow your business. Technology evolves fast.…
Spreadsheets have been a go-to business tool for decades. They’re familiar, flexible, and let’s face it—there’s a certain satisfaction in getting that one tricky formula to finally work. But here’s the thing: while spreadsheets have served us well, they’re no longer the most efficient or secure way to manage your business data. In fact, 90% of…
It’s a quiet June morning in Chicagoland. Half your team is on vacation. The rest are working remotely — maybe from a lake house in Michigan or a café in Lincoln Park. Then it happens. Your network crashes. The printer won’t respond. No one can access shared files. A phishing email just slipped through. You…
Your employees might be the biggest cybersecurity risk in your business – and not just because they’re prone to click phishing e-mails or reuse passwords. It’s because they’re using apps your IT team doesn’t even know about. This is called Shadow IT, and it’s one of the fastest-growing security risks for businesses today. Employees download…
