If you or your business are worried about cybersecurity, we’d like to say, “Congratulations, you get it!” Too many people fail to take cybersecurity seriously, and with hackers and data breaches making headlines worldwide, you cannot underestimate them. Today, we want to cover how a cybersecurity consultant can save you time, money, and stress over your security systems.
Bluesky is the new kid in town regarding social media platforms, which means that most users may not have a significant following on it yet… and new users may not be following many at all. However, a few baked-in options make it much simpler for the latter to curate their experience on the platform.
Let’s go over how a user can find new accounts to follow on Bluesky.
Sometimes problem solving requires you to step away and think about the issue at hand. Consider any great strategist out there and you’ll understand that it takes time and calculation to make moves that will benefit you now and in the future. Today, we’ll explore how you can be more productive through strategic pausing.
Last week, we discussed why X—the social media network once known as Twitter—has been losing many users. Here, we wanted to direct those seeking a move to consider the up-and-coming platform known as Bluesky in case you were one of those jumping ship.
Let’s talk about how Bluesky operates, including how to sign up.
Computer problems can be super frustrating, especially when they slow you down while working. Many times, it is something that can be fixed quickly, but then there are issues that an experienced IT professional has to address. Let’s take a look at some of the most common computer problems professionals run into.
The landscape of business is intrinsically tied to technology, and as companies evolve, so does the complexity of their IT requirements. From cybersecurity threats to remote work infrastructure, businesses face constant challenges that demand more than just reactive solutions. To stay competitive and secure while fostering growth, developing a well-thought-out IT strategy is no longer optional—it’s essential.
A well-planned I.T. strategy must think beyond today, it must consider where the business is going, and use the experience of an IT expert to streamline how technology aligns with the business. At a minimum, a strategy should consider the next 5 years.
This blog will walk you through the importance of a comprehensive IT strategy, why it goes beyond individual components, and how aligning technology with business goals is key to long-term success.
An IT strategy is the foundation of how your business uses technology to achieve its objectives. It’s a roadmap designed to align your IT systems, resources, and processes with your company’s goals and values.
But it’s not just about choosing the latest software or hardware. A successful IT strategy takes a holistic view, ensuring that every decision integrates seamlessly across systems, applications, and teams. This alignment ensures resources are used efficiently, risks are minimized, and the business operates at its peak potential.
Imagine you’re implementing a cybersecurity initiative for your company. The immediate focus might be tightening firewalls or improving encryption protocols, but stopping there is a mistake. Without considering the overall IT environment, you risk creating inefficiencies or leaving gaps that a singular focus can’t address.
For example, have you thought about how your workforce accesses company apps and data? Are they working locally, nationally, or even internationally? Are current systems compatible with the new cybersecurity measures, or will adjustments be needed at the architecture level?
Taking a myopic approach to IT leaves room for costly errors. Instead of looking at isolated projects, businesses need strategies that encompass every layer of their technology system.
Cybersecurity isn’t just about safeguarding data—it’s about ensuring the entire IT ecosystem is secure. A robust strategy evaluates multiple facets, such as how employees log in remotely, data storage protocols, and threat prevention technologies.
Example: You might discover cost-saving opportunities by changing how employees connect to your network. Transitioning from traditional VPNs to Zero Trust network models can reduce recurring expenses while increasing security.
A cohesive IT strategy evaluates how your current systems and architecture interact. Outdated systems may bottleneck productivity or lead to costly inefficiencies. Aligning architecture with business goals ensures that IT supports—not hinders—growth.
Example: Transitioning to cloud-based systems can integrate better with remote work initiatives and scale as your company expands, future-proofing your infrastructure.
The shift to remote work has added layers of complexity to IT requirements. Previously, allowing employees to work exclusively from local offices simplified security and data access needs. Now, companies need strategies tailored to hybrid or fully remote teams spread across different regions.
Considerations include:
Many businesses handle IT reactively, addressing issues only when they arise. This approach often leads to higher costs over time. Instead, a proactive IT strategy evaluates opportunities to reduce expenses without sacrificing functionality or security.
For example, rather than repeatedly investing in new security solutions, reevaluating how users access systems might deliver similar results at a lower cost. Virtual solutions like desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) could provide significant savings compared to traditional setups.
No IT strategy is complete without ensuring team members are equipped to use the tools you implement. Providing ongoing training not only improves efficiency but also prevents security vulnerabilities caused by human error. A plan that accounts for the human element will always outperform one that doesn’t.
Technology evolves at lightning speed, making yesterday’s cutting-edge tools obsolete tomorrow. A reliable IT strategy isn’t static—it’s fluid and adaptable, scaling as your company grows and evolves alongside new technological advancements.
Think of it as an iterative process. Reviewing and revising your strategy ensures it remains aligned with both your current needs and the changing tech landscape.
Businesses that adopt holistic IT strategies gain a competitive edge in several ways:
For instance, several organizations that partnered with IT consultants to create customized strategies reported 30% faster project completions and up to 50% lower cybersecurity costs over just one year. These results emphasize the tangible value of IT planning.
Developing a comprehensive IT strategy can feel overwhelming. That’s where a reliable IT partner comes in. At Waypoint, we don’t see ourselves as just a service provider. We’re an extension of your team, offering insight, expertise, and proactive solutions tailored to your unique challenges.
Here’s how we help businesses like yours succeed:
Technology is no longer just a support tool—it’s the backbone of business operations. Without a thoughtful IT strategy, businesses risk falling behind competitors, overspending, and increasing operational vulnerabilities.
At Waypoint, we believe every organization deserves an ally to help them navigate the complexities of IT, enabling them to thrive in today’s digital world. Whether you’re just beginning to form your IT strategy or need help optimizing your current systems, we’re here to guide you.
Book a consultation with our Waypoint team today and discover how we can help align your IT systems with your business goals.
How seriously does your business take data privacy? Can you back up your answer with concrete examples of what you do to prioritize that notion? Today, we face a serious threat to both individual and consumer data privacy, so we want to take the time to cover how you can make data privacy a priority in your own life.
X The Everything App®, formerly Twitter, has been experiencing a massive user loss for the past few weeks, with everyone from celebrities to average people evacuating from the platform. If you wish to join them for any reason, we’re sharing the process for fully extricating yourself and your data from this specific social media network.
In recent years, there has been much debate about how companies collect, sell, and use personal data. Many businesses make extra money by selling data they collect about people. This might seem like a side effect of all the data we create online, but it can lead to some tricky problems. Today, we'll look at something called the "data-broker loophole," how it works, and what we can do about it.
Cybersecurity is intensely important, so a business owner would think implementing every security feature and defense would be a good idea. However, as research has shown, this can be counterproductive, as only 67% of surveyed security leaders know what led to cybersecurity incidents in their businesses over the past year.
The Disney brand has long cultivated an image of magic and wonder. However, this image has yet to materialize any magical effects in reality. For example, people still suffer from food allergies while visiting Disney’s various parks.
This makes it especially dangerous that a former Disney employee was allegedly still able to access a specialized menu-planning app and make alterations, like changing prices, adding language that Disney certainly would not approve of, switching text to the unintelligible “Wingdings” font, and worst of all… changing menu information.
In June of this year, publisher Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, best known for its book series of the same name, filed for Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy and had many of its assets liquidated. One of these assets was the movie rental service Redbox and its eponymous scarlet rental kiosks, rendering the service defunct.
However, many kiosks remain standing outside businesses even now, which makes us wonder… what about all the data they collected while they were in use?